St. Louis acquired Cliff McClain, but his Cardinals return…
St. Louis acquired Cliff McClain, but his Cardinals return did not match the contribution New York received from Jamie Rivers. The D grade reflects the limited realized value on the St. Louis side after surrendering Rivers and Roger Bernhardt. With Rivers starting sixteen games across two Jets seasons, New York received the more useful outcome from the exchange.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- player Cliff McClain
New York Jets Received
- player Jamie Rivers
- player Roger Bernhardt
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1974-05-11, Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets completed this exchange. Arizona Cardinals received Cliff McClain, while New York Jets received Jamie Rivers; Roger Bernhardt. Historical team, player, and draft records support the compensation and provide enough career context to compare what each side actually gained.
Arizona Cardinals Return
St. Louis acquired Cliff McClain, but his Cardinals return did not match the contribution New York received from Jamie Rivers. The D grade reflects the limited realized value on the St. Louis side after surrendering Rivers and Roger Bernhardt. With Rivers starting sixteen games across two Jets seasons, New York received the more useful outcome from the exchange.
New York Jets Return
New York received Jamie Rivers and Roger Bernhardt. Rivers started thirteen games for the Jets in 1974 and three more in 1975, giving New York a meaningful two-season contribution from the deal. The B+ grade reflects that useful starting value and the additional player in the package, supporting a New York Jets Win verdict over St. Louis.
Value in Hindsight
New York received both quantity and the best realized player value. Jamie Rivers started sixteen games across his first two Jets seasons, while Cliff McClain did not provide St. Louis with an equivalent return. Roger Bernhardt added another asset to New York's side, widening an already noticeable advantage.
Final Verdict
The final call is New York Jets Win. Arizona Cardinals earns a D, and New York Jets earns a B+. Those grades weigh the supported compensation, the quality and duration of the resulting contributions, and the practical football value each club ultimately realized from the exchange.