The Rams moved veteran defensive back Clancy Williams to…

The Exchange

Washington acquired veteran cornerback Clarence 'Clancy' Williams from the Los Angeles Rams on January 31, 1973. The Rams received Washington's fifteenth-round selection, No. 389, and used it on Washington defensive end Kurt Matter.

Los Angeles Rams Return

The Rams moved veteran defensive back Clancy Williams to Washington and received the late 1973 selection used on Kurt Matter. Matter did not appear in an NFL regular-season game, while Williams' eight-season Rams career had effectively reached its end before the trade produced value for Washington. Both clubs exchanged assets with recognizable résumé or draft value, but neither side gained a meaningful post-trade football return.

Washington Return

Washington acquired veteran cornerback Clarence 'Clancy' Williams from the Rams for a 1973 fifteenth-round pick, No. 389, used on defensive end Kurt Matter. Williams had been a long-time Rams starter but did not add regular-season production for Washington, while Matter never played an NFL regular-season game. With neither side converting the exchange into lasting on-field value, the corrected transaction belongs in the even category.

Value in Hindsight

Once the two separate Washington-Rams deals from the same date are evaluated independently, this one is straightforward. Washington acquired a veteran at the end of his NFL run, while Los Angeles received a late pick that did not become an NFL contributor. Neither side surrendered a valuable asset that later flourished elsewhere, and neither side created a meaningful post-trade advantage.

Final Verdict

Both teams receive a C and the verdict is Even Trade. Williams' prior career was much stronger than Matter's professional outcome, but the relevant post-trade value was minimal on both sides. The transaction amounted to low-cost roster churn without a durable winner.