San Francisco and St. Louis exchanged George Collins and Dan…
San Francisco and St. Louis exchanged George Collins and Dan Audick in April 1983. Each club received a veteran player who offered depth, but neither side generated a lasting value advantage or meaningful downstream asset. With the transaction limited to the two players and the post-trade outcomes remaining close, an even C/C grade best reflects the modest result.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- player Dan Audick
San Francisco 49ers Received
- player George Collins
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
San Francisco and the Cardinals completed the George Collins-for-Dan Audick swap on April 21, 1983. Historical team materials support the two-player package and date. With no draft choice or additional consideration driving the deal, the evaluation comes down to the service each player provided after the trade and whether either team gained a durable advantage from the roster change.
Arizona Cardinals Return
The Cardinals received Audick as an experienced offensive lineman. He offered roster value, but the move did not produce a long-term difference-maker or a return large enough to separate St. Louis from San Francisco. The acquisition fit the profile of a practical veteran exchange: useful in the short term, limited in broader franchise impact, and not accompanied by another asset that later changed the balance.
San Francisco 49ers Return
San Francisco received Collins in the same straightforward swap. His contribution likewise remained modest rather than transformative. The 49ers did not surrender a premium pick or future asset to make the move, so the limited return is not especially damaging. At the same time, Collins did not create enough additional value to justify grading San Francisco above the Cardinals.
Value in Hindsight
There is no strong reason to force a winner. Both teams traded a veteran from one area of the roster for a veteran who better fit another need, and both received some degree of service without finding a lasting cornerstone. No later pick conversion or secondary transaction changed the picture. When the results are this close and the stakes this modest, equal middle grades are the most accurate treatment.
Final Verdict
The trade is even at C/C. Arizona and San Francisco each received legitimate but limited veteran value, and neither side established a meaningful long-term edge. The exchange made sense as a roster adjustment, but hindsight does not show enough separation to award a win to either franchise.