Green Bay sent first-, second- and third-round choices in…
Green Bay sent first-, second- and third-round choices in 1975 plus first- and second-round choices in 1976 to Los Angeles for 34-year-old quarterback John Hadl. Hadl went 7-12 as a Packers starter across 1974 and 1975 and threw nine touchdowns against 29 interceptions in his 22 Green Bay games. The Rams used or converted the haul into Mike Fanning, Monte Jackson, Geoff Reece, Ron Jessie and Pat Thomas, with Jackson and Thomas becoming Pro Bowl defensive backs. That balance of realized value gives the edge to Los Angeles Rams.
Green Bay Packers Received
- player John Hadl
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick 1975 first round pick (#9-Mike Fanning)
- pick 1975 second round pick (#28-Monte Jackson)
- pick 1975 third round pick (#61-Geoff Reece)
- pick 1976 first round pick (#8-Dennis Lick)
- pick 1976 second round pick (#39-Pat Thomas (S.))
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Green Bay sent first-, second- and third-round choices in 1975 plus first- and second-round choices in 1976 to Los Angeles for 34-year-old quarterback John Hadl. The exchange fit a common 1970s roster calculation: one club preferred an established player or immediate help, while the other accepted draft capital or a different asset path. The important hindsight question is not the nominal round alone, but what each team actually received once the move played out.
What Green Bay Packers Received
Hadl went 7-12 as a Packers starter across 1974 and 1975 and threw nine touchdowns against 29 interceptions in his 22 Green Bay games. For Green Bay Packers, that outcome is the main measure of the return. Immediate playing time matters, but so do durability, starts, scoring, and whether the acquired asset remained useful beyond a short stop. The result gives Green Bay Packers a F because the club's realized contribution must be judged against what it surrendered.
What Los Angeles Rams Received
The Rams used or converted the haul into Mike Fanning, Monte Jackson, Geoff Reece, Ron Jessie and Pat Thomas, with Jackson and Thomas becoming Pro Bowl defensive backs. That gives Los Angeles Rams a different value profile from the other side. A draft choice only becomes valuable when it turns into useful football production, while a veteran's value depends on how much he actually contributes after the trade. On that basis, Los Angeles Rams earns a A+.
Why the Verdict Lands Here
The price was extraordinary for an aging quarterback and helped Los Angeles sustain a contender while Green Bay received little durable quarterback value. The comparison therefore rests on direct, realized NFL value rather than the theoretical price of the assets on the day of the deal. Longevity and meaningful contribution carry more weight than a pick number by itself, and a short stay can still matter when the opposing return produces even less.
Final Verdict
Los Angeles Rams Win. Green Bay Packers receives a F, while Los Angeles Rams receives a A+. The grades reflect the confirmed package and the football contribution that followed for each franchise.