Atlanta and Green Bay agreed to a deadline exchange involving…
Atlanta and Green Bay agreed to a deadline exchange involving Eric Dickerson, Bruce Pickens, John Stephens and a conditional 1994 pick, but Dickerson failed the Packers physical and his rights returned to Atlanta. The surviving value was much smaller: Green Bay kept Pickens, while Atlanta kept Stephens and the conditional pick. Neither side created enough lasting value to earn more than an even C/C result.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- player John Stephens (Milton)
- pick 1994 conditional seventh round pick (not exercised)
Green Bay Packers Received
- player Bruce Pickens
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On October 12, 1993, Atlanta and Green Bay announced a multi-piece deadline exchange. Contemporary coverage initially grouped Eric Dickerson and Bruce Pickens going to Green Bay for John Stephens and a conditional 1994 pick. Packers historical reporting later clarifies that Dickerson failed his physical because of a neck condition and his rights returned to Atlanta, while the other pieces of the transaction remained in place.
Atlanta Falcons Return
Atlanta ultimately retained Stephens and the conditional draft asset. Stephens never carried the ball for the Falcons and was released roughly two weeks after the trade, so the player return created essentially no on-field value. The conditional late-rounder added some value, but not enough to make Atlanta a clear winner in a deal whose most famous component was unwound.
Green Bay Packers Return
Green Bay retained Pickens, a former No. 3 overall selection acquired as secondary help. He was the meaningful player the Packers actually kept after Dickerson failed the physical. Pickens did not become a long-term cornerstone in Green Bay, so the Packers received usable but limited value rather than the star running back they had hoped to add.
Value in Hindsight
The failed Dickerson physical changes the way the exchange should be judged. It is misleading to grade Green Bay as if Dickerson became a Packer, because he did not. Once that piece is removed, both sides are left with modest assets: Atlanta got a short-lived runner and a conditional late pick, while Green Bay got a cornerback who did not become a major long-term answer.
Final Verdict
The final call is Even Trade. Atlanta Falcons receives a C grade and Green Bay Packers receives a C grade. The grades emphasize the assets that actually survived the transaction, the useful NFL production generated after the move, and the price each club paid. The result stays proportional to the size of the deal and does not turn a depth move or late-round asset into a franchise-changing event.