Arizona Cardinals received Mike LaHood, while Los Angeles…
Arizona Cardinals received Mike LaHood, while Los Angeles Rams received John Wilbur. Mike LaHood also provided modest value after arriving in St. Louis. The Cardinals did not receive a return strong enough to create clear separation from the Rams. In hindsight, that direct return supports a C+ grade for Arizona Cardinals. The grade reflects realized football value from this exchange rather than reputation alone.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- player Mike LaHood
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player John Wilbur
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1970-08-25, Arizona Cardinals received Mike LaHood, while Los Angeles Rams received John Wilbur. The deal was limited in scale, so the evaluation turns on the direct football value each club actually received. The supported package is treated as the complete exchange, and the grades stay proportional to what this transaction produced.
Arizona Cardinals Return
Arizona Cardinals received Mike LaHood, while Los Angeles Rams received John Wilbur. Mike LaHood also provided modest value after arriving in St. Louis. The Cardinals did not receive a return strong enough to create clear separation from the Rams. In hindsight, that direct return supports a C+ grade for Arizona Cardinals. The grade reflects realized football value from this exchange rather than reputation alone.
Los Angeles Rams Return
Los Angeles Rams received John Wilbur, while Arizona Cardinals received Mike LaHood. John Wilbur contributed as a Rams reserve after the trade. His Los Angeles tenure provided modest usable value, even if it did not become a major standalone success. In hindsight, that direct return supports a C+ grade for Los Angeles Rams. The grade reflects realized football value from this exchange rather than reputation alone.
Value in Hindsight
Both sides received serviceable but limited returns, which keeps the exchange near even. Wilbur's later inclusion in another transaction is not counted as independent value here; the comparison stays focused on what each club directly received from this deal. Those direct returns were close enough for matching C+ grades. Because this was a relatively small exchange, the grade gap is kept in proportion to the actual difference in outcomes rather than the size of the names involved.
Final Verdict
The final judgment is Even Trade. Arizona Cardinals receives C+, while Los Angeles Rams receives C+. The verdict follows the strongest supported comparison of what each side directly obtained. A modest deal can still produce a winner, but the grades remain scaled to the transaction's limited size and realized impact.