Atlanta Falcons received Frank Molden, John Mallory, John…
Atlanta Falcons received Frank Molden, John Mallory, John Zook, and 1970 fourth round pick (#84-Paul Reed). Atlanta received John Zook, Frank Molden, John Mallory, and the fourth-round choice used on Paul Reed. Zook became an every-game starter for seven Falcons seasons, while Mallory added 26 starts across three seasons. Atlanta turned the package into years of starting production, especially from Zook, while Philadelphia received no comparable return from Purnell. That outcome supports an A- grade for Atlanta Falcons.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- player Frank Molden
- player John Mallory
- player John Zook
- pick 1970 fourth round pick (#84-Paul Reed)
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- player Jim Purnell
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1969-07-07, Atlanta Falcons received Frank Molden, John Mallory, John Zook, and 1970 fourth round pick (#84-Paul Reed), while Philadelphia Eagles received Jim Purnell. Team and player records support the package. The comparison focuses on value each club controlled after the exchange.
Atlanta Falcons Return
Atlanta Falcons received Frank Molden, John Mallory, John Zook, and 1970 fourth round pick (#84-Paul Reed). Atlanta received John Zook, Frank Molden, John Mallory, and the fourth-round choice used on Paul Reed. Zook became an every-game starter for seven Falcons seasons, while Mallory added 26 starts across three seasons. Atlanta turned the package into years of starting production, especially from Zook, while Philadelphia received no comparable return from Purnell. That outcome supports an A- grade for Atlanta Falcons.
Philadelphia Eagles Return
Philadelphia Eagles received Jim Purnell. Philadelphia received Jim Purnell. His Eagles return did not approach the sustained starting value Atlanta obtained from Zook and Mallory, leaving Philadelphia well behind on realized football value. Atlanta turned the package into years of starting production, especially from Zook, while Philadelphia received no comparable return from Purnell. That outcome supports a D+ grade for Philadelphia Eagles.
Value in Hindsight
Atlanta turned the package into years of starting production, especially from Zook, while Philadelphia received no comparable return from Purnell. The comparison gives the most weight to regular-season contribution, starting value, and clearly documented conversion of acquired draft capital. Later selections by another holder are useful for tracing a pick, but they are not treated as on-field production for a club that had already moved the asset.
Final Verdict
The final call is Atlanta Falcons Win. Atlanta Falcons earns A-, and Philadelphia Eagles earns D+. Those grades match the supported package and the relative football value each side ultimately realized, without overstating the exchange or assigning another club's later player outcome to the wrong team.