Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos exchanged 1974 tenth…
Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos exchanged 1974 tenth round pick (#251-Greg Hartle) for Dale Hackbart. Hackbart had been a long-time NFL defender, but his Denver stay was brief. The important comparison is longevity and realized roster value. In hindsight, Arizona Cardinals produced the stronger realized return, with the grade based on actual post-trade service and traceable downstream value rather than the nominal asset label alone.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- pick 1974 tenth round pick (#251-Greg Hartle)
Denver Broncos Received
- player Dale Hackbart
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Denver acquired veteran safety Dale Hackbart from St. Louis on July 11, 1973, while the Cardinals received Denver's 1974 tenth-round choice, later used at No. 251 on linebacker Greg Hartle.
Arizona Cardinals Return
Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos exchanged 1974 tenth round pick (#251-Greg Hartle) for Dale Hackbart. Hackbart had been a long-time NFL defender, but his Denver stay was brief. The important comparison is longevity and realized roster value. In hindsight, Arizona Cardinals produced the stronger realized return, with the grade based on actual post-trade service and traceable downstream value rather than the nominal asset label alone.
Denver Broncos Return
Denver Broncos sent 1974 tenth round pick (#251-Greg Hartle) and received Dale Hackbart. Hartle gave St. The important comparison is longevity and realized roster value. In hindsight, Arizona Cardinals produced the stronger realized return, with the grade based on actual post-trade service and traceable downstream value rather than the nominal asset label alone.
Value in Hindsight
The important comparison is longevity and realized roster value. Denver bought a very short veteran finish, while St. Louis converted a tenth-round pick into a player who stayed around for several seasons. Because the acquisition cost was modest on both sides, the gap is meaningful without being franchise-changing.
The grade also avoids rewarding either side simply for acquiring a named veteran or a numbered draft choice. The useful question is what the new club actually received after the transaction: games, starts, production, roster longevity, or a traceable downstream selection. That realized-value test keeps a small historical exchange from being overstated.
Final Verdict
Arizona earns the win. A B- reflects useful multi-season value from an extremely late pick, while Denver's C- reflects only three games from Hackbart before his career ended.