Atlanta received Dave Cahill, who immediately appeared in 11…
Atlanta received Dave Cahill, who immediately appeared in 11 games and started eight at defensive tackle for the Falcons. Even though his stay was not long, that regular-season role gave Atlanta a clear and measurable contribution from the exchange. That outcome supports a B grade within the Atlanta Falcons Win verdict. The grade reflects realized football value rather than the size of the original package.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- player Dave Cahill
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick 1970 seventh round pick (#168- Bill Nelson )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1969-09-10, Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Rams completed an exchange in which Atlanta Falcons received Dave Cahill, while Los Angeles Rams received 1970 seventh round pick (#168-Bill Nelson). The later careers and downstream use of those assets make the hindsight comparison meaningful. The strongest evaluation comes from weighing what each side actually received and what those pieces produced after the deal.
Atlanta Falcons Return
Atlanta received Dave Cahill, who immediately appeared in 11 games and started eight at defensive tackle for the Falcons. Even though his stay was not long, that regular-season role gave Atlanta a clear and measurable contribution from the exchange. That outcome supports a B grade within the Atlanta Falcons Win verdict. The grade reflects realized football value rather than the size of the original package.
Los Angeles Rams Return
Los Angeles received the 1970 seventh-round choice that became Bill Nelson. The pick did not produce a comparable Rams playing contribution, so the downstream return was weaker than Cahill's immediate role in Atlanta. That outcome supports a C- grade within the Atlanta Falcons Win verdict. The grade reflects realized football value rather than the size of the original package.
Value in Hindsight
Atlanta's media guide and the 1970 draft records confirm the Falcons sent a seventh-round choice to Los Angeles for Dave Cahill, with the Rams using No. 168 on Bill Nelson. Cahill immediately played 11 games and started eight at defensive tackle for Atlanta, producing the stronger documented return. That evidence makes the relative value easier to judge with the benefit of completed careers and documented transaction history. It also keeps the comparison proportional to the scale of the deal instead of overstating a modest exchange.
Final Verdict
Atlanta Falcons Win. The grades reflect the difference in realized football value while keeping the size and era of the transaction in perspective. Where both returns were limited, the grades stay modest; where one side produced a durable contributor, the advantage is correspondingly larger.