Arizona Cardinals received draft pick (possibly 1967…
Arizona Cardinals received draft pick (possibly 1967 #193-Mike Gold). The locked Wave 209 research supports the D grade after comparing the direct production and draft value attributable to this transaction. The evaluation excludes unrelated later moves and unsupported assumptions. Against Detroit Lions, that documented return supports the final verdict of Detroit Lions Win.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- pick draft pick (possibly 1967 #193-Mike Gold)
Detroit Lions Received
- player Mike Alford
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Mike Alford was traded from St. Louis to Detroit on August 25, 1966 and played 12 Lions games that season. The Cardinals received a draft choice that contemporary draft records associate, but do not conclusively prove, with 1967 No. 193 Mike Gold; Gold produced no NFL games. Detroit has the stronger supported return. This review keeps the historical comparison tied to assets directly connected to the transaction. Later success counts only when the club still controlled the player or draft capital produced by the deal, preventing unrelated moves from inflating the result.
Arizona Cardinals Return
Arizona Cardinals is graded D. The grade reflects the duration, role, production, and supported downstream value of the assets this club actually received. Immediate roster value matters, but short stays, uncertain pick identities, or assets that never produced meaningful game value limit the ceiling. The judgment stays proportional to the original acquisition cost.
Detroit Lions Return
Detroit Lions is graded C+. The same standard applies here: draft choices receive credit for what the club actually selected or directly converted, while players are judged by games, starts, role, and sustained usefulness. Unsupported downstream assumptions are excluded even when a later transaction could make the original deal look more dramatic.
Value in Hindsight
The direct evidence supports Detroit Lions Win. The separation comes from the quality and durability of value each team demonstrably controlled after the exchange. A low-cost trade can still have a clear winner when one side receives useful seasons and the other gets almost nothing, while similarly limited returns support an even result.
Final Verdict
The final call is Detroit Lions Win. Final grades: Arizona Cardinals D, Detroit Lions C+. The decision reflects the supported package, direct production, and defensible downstream draft value. It does not assign credit for unrelated later success, and unresolved historical details are left qualified rather than presented as certain.