St. Louis Cardinals received Mike Taylor in the 1973-03-10…
St. Louis Cardinals received Mike Taylor in the 1973-03-10 exchange with Philadelphia Eagles, giving up Steve Wright. St. Louis acquired offensive tackle Mike Taylor in the one-for-one exchange. That return supports a C grade for St. Louis Cardinals. The final verdict is Even Trade, based on the football value tied directly to the assets in this deal.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- player Mike Taylor
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- player Steve Wright
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1973-03-10, St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles completed a deal in which St. Louis Cardinals received Mike Taylor, while Philadelphia Eagles received Steve Wright. Multiple historical records agree on the player movement, counterparties, and material consideration. That makes the useful hindsight question straightforward: what football value did each club actually receive from the assets attached to this exchange?
St. Louis Cardinals Return
St. Louis acquired offensive tackle Mike Taylor in the one-for-one exchange. The return is best judged at the scale of the transaction itself. For St. Louis Cardinals, the important point is whether the incoming asset produced usable service or preserved meaningful draft value. Nothing in the documented outcome justifies stretching the grade beyond what the actual return supports, so C is an appropriate mark.
Philadelphia Eagles Return
Philadelphia acquired offensive tackle Steve Wright in return. That result defines the other side of the comparison. For Philadelphia Eagles, the grade should reflect the contribution or draft value that followed from this specific deal, without crediting unrelated roster moves or later transactions. On that basis, C fits the value Philadelphia Eagles ultimately realized.
Value in Hindsight
The deal was a straightforward tackle-for-tackle swap, and the available evidence does not show a large enough difference in realized value to favor either club. Because this was not a franchise-changing exchange, the grade spread should remain proportional to the evidence. Late-round picks, short veteran stints, failed physicals, and nominal cash returns can still matter, but they should not be treated like premium assets. The comparison therefore emphasizes actual service, identifiable draft outcomes, and the direct consequences of the deal.
Final Verdict
The final call is Even Trade. St. Louis Cardinals receives C, while Philadelphia Eagles receives C. That verdict matches the documented outcome and keeps the judgment tied to the exchange itself. Where the realized returns were close, the grades stay close; where one side obtained clearly more useful football value, the grade separation reflects that advantage without overstating a relatively small transaction.