Philadelphia acquired running back Larry Watkins from Detroit…
Philadelphia acquired running back Larry Watkins from Detroit on October 6, 1970 for a 1971 second-round pick. Watkins became useful Eagles depth, playing 37 games with nine starts over three seasons and rushing for 456 yards. Detroit secured premium draft capital for a player who had been a part-time contributor. The exact downstream identity of the pick is disputed in surviving transaction records, so the grade does not depend on naming a specific draftee.
Detroit Lions Received
- pick 1971 second round pick
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- player Larry Watkins
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Detroit traded running back Larry Watkins to Philadelphia on October 6, 1970 for the Eagles’ second-round selection in the 1971 draft. Lions historical material confirms the player-for-pick exchange. The exact downstream identity of that second-rounder is less certain: surviving draft-transaction records flag conflicting provenance involving Philadelphia’s second-round assets. The trade can still be evaluated without assigning an unverified player to the pick.
What Philadelphia Received
Watkins provided real depth over three seasons. NFL records show him playing 11 games for the Eagles in 1970, 12 in 1971 and 14 in 1972, for 37 appearances in all. He started nine of those games, including eight in 1972. Watkins rushed for 96 yards in 1970, 98 in 1971 and 262 in 1972, totaling 456 rushing yards with three rushing touchdowns during his Philadelphia tenure. That is useful rotation and spot-starting value, even though he never became a high-end featured back for the Eagles.
What Detroit Received
The Lions received a future second-round pick, which was premium roster-building capital for a player who had started only three games for Detroit in 1969. A second-round selection carries substantially more upside than a late-round flier. Because the surviving provenance record is conflicted, it would be too aggressive to credit Detroit with the later career of a specific player such as Dave Thompson. The secure conclusion is narrower: Detroit converted Watkins into a confirmed second-round asset.
Final Verdict
Philadelphia did receive meaningful service, so the Eagles deserve better than a poor grade. Three seasons, 37 games and nine starts represent legitimate return. Detroit nevertheless gets the slight edge for obtaining a second-round choice for a part-time back, even when the uncertain downstream pick identity is excluded from the calculation. A B- for Detroit and C+ for Philadelphia captures that balance. The Lions win narrowly on asset value, while the Eagles still received useful on-field production.