Miami acquired offensive lineman John Mooring from the Jets…
Miami acquired offensive lineman John Mooring from the Jets on August 28, 1974, while New York received the 1975 sixth-round choice that became Tom Alward at No. 153. Mooring did not establish himself in Miami and was assigned to New Orleans on waivers less than two weeks later. Alward did not provide direct Jets value from the acquired choice, so neither side converted the exchange into a meaningful long-term return. The realized value on both sides makes an even verdict the fairest result.
Miami Dolphins Received
- player John Mooring
New York Jets Received
- pick 1975 sixth round pick (#153-Tom Alward)
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Miami acquired offensive lineman John Mooring from the Jets on August 28, 1974, while New York received the 1975 sixth-round choice that became Tom Alward at No. 153. 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 Miami Dolphins Received
Mooring did not establish himself in Miami and was assigned to New Orleans on waivers less than two weeks later. For Miami Dolphins, 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 Miami Dolphins a C because the club's realized contribution must be judged against what it surrendered.
What New York Jets Received
Alward did not provide direct Jets value from the acquired choice, so neither side converted the exchange into a meaningful long-term return. That gives New York Jets 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, New York Jets earns a C.
Why the Verdict Lands Here
The transaction is best viewed as a low-cost depth move whose possible upside disappeared quickly for both clubs. 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
Even Trade. Miami Dolphins receives a C, while New York Jets receives a C. The grades reflect the confirmed package and the football contribution that followed for each franchise.