New Orleans moved defensive back David Greenwood to Tampa Bay…
New Orleans moved defensive back David Greenwood to Tampa Bay on August 30, 1985 and received a 1986 third-round pick, No. 57 overall. That pick became Rueben Mayes, who won Offensive Rookie of the Year, made two Pro Bowls and rushed for 3,484 yards as a Saint. The long-term return clearly outweighed Greenwood’s useful but brief Tampa Bay stint.
New Orleans Saints Received
- pick 1986 third-round pick (No. 57 overall - Rueben Mayes)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Received
- player David Greenwood / Dave Greenwood
Trade Analysis
Why Tampa Bay Made the Move
The Buccaneers wanted proven secondary help before the 1985 season and paid a future third-round pick for David Greenwood. The move delivered an immediate result. Greenwood played all 16 games for Tampa Bay, intercepted five passes and added three sacks. For a team seeking veteran defensive production, that was a useful one-year return rather than an empty acquisition.
What Greenwood Delivered
Greenwood’s Tampa Bay stay was short, which limits the value of the move. His 1985 numbers were strong enough to justify the idea behind the trade, but the Buccaneers did not turn the transaction into a multi-season defensive piece. The cost therefore has to be measured against what the future selection became, not merely against the fact that Greenwood helped right away.
What New Orleans Built
New Orleans received the 1986 third-round choice, No. 57 overall, and selected Rueben Mayes. Mayes immediately became one of the league’s best young backs, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and earning Pro Bowl honors in each of his first two seasons. He rushed for 3,484 yards during his Saints career and gave New Orleans a much larger body of high-end production than Greenwood supplied Tampa Bay.
How the Value Settled
This is a classic example of a reasonable veteran acquisition being overwhelmed by the player selected with the return. Tampa Bay did get real 1985 production, so the deal was not a total miss. New Orleans, however, converted the pick into a featured offensive player with awards, longevity and several productive seasons.
Final Verdict
New Orleans earns an A and Tampa Bay a C+. Greenwood helped immediately, but Mayes became the defining asset of the transaction. The Saints received the more valuable and more durable football return, making this a New Orleans Saints Win.