Baltimore acquired Howard Stevens from New Orleans for a 1977…
Baltimore acquired Howard Stevens from New Orleans for a 1977 fifth-round pick and received three seasons of useful return work. Stevens handled 109 punt returns for 1,012 yards with the Colts and added substantial kickoff-return production, especially in 1976. New Orleans used the No. 136 selection on Dave Hubbard, whose NFL career lasted only five games. Baltimore received the clearly stronger result.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player Howard Stevens
New Orleans Saints Received
- pick 1977 fifth round pick (#136-Dave Hubbard)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Baltimore acquired running back and return specialist Howard Stevens from New Orleans on September 9, 1975, for a fifth-round selection in the 1977 draft. New Orleans eventually used that choice, No. 136 overall, on Dave Hubbard. The trade was modest in acquisition cost, so the result turns on which side converted its asset into useful NFL snaps.
What Baltimore Received
Stevens immediately became a regular part of the Colts' return units. He returned 36 punts for 396 yards in 1975, 39 for 315 yards in 1976, and 34 for 301 yards in 1977. He also returned 30 kickoffs for 710 yards in 1976 and added 216 kickoff-return yards the following season. That is three straight years of identifiable special-teams production from a player acquired for a fifth-rounder.
What New Orleans Received
The Saints preserved future value by taking the pick instead of retaining Stevens. Their selection became Hubbard at No. 136 in 1977. Hubbard, however, appeared in only five NFL games and never developed into the kind of contributor needed to match what Stevens gave Baltimore. The draft asset was legitimate; the realized return was minimal.
Why Baltimore Wins
Late-round trades should be judged against realistic expectations. Baltimore did not acquire a star, but it obtained a dependable return specialist who handled a large workload over three seasons. New Orleans' draft choice produced almost no NFL value. That difference is substantial even though neither side surrendered premium capital.
Final Verdict
Baltimore receives a B+ and New Orleans a D+. The Colts turned a fifth-round pick into three seasons of productive return work, while the Saints' selected player barely appeared in the league. Baltimore wins the exchange on clear, sustained realized production.