San Francisco 49ers received Paul Seal; New Orleans Saints…
San Francisco 49ers received Paul Seal; New Orleans Saints received John Watson. Seal played 43 games for San Francisco from 1977-79, catching 37 passes for 634 yards and three touchdowns. Watson appeared in 15 games for New Orleans over three seasons and made five starts, all in 1978. The realized outcomes support San Francisco 49ers Win, with San Francisco 49ers graded B- and New Orleans Saints graded C.
New Orleans Saints Received
- player John Watson
San Francisco 49ers Received
- player Paul Seal
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1977-09-02, San Francisco 49ers received Paul Seal, while New Orleans Saints received John Watson. The package is documented well enough to evaluate what each club actually realized rather than relying on generic descriptions or the nominal value of a pick.
San Francisco 49ers Return
Seal gave San Francisco three seasons of receiving value at tight end. He appeared in 43 games from 1977 through 1979 and totaled 37 receptions for 634 yards and three touchdowns for the 49ers. That is the relevant football outcome for San Francisco 49ers. The B- grade is based on games, starts, production, roster tenure and the actual disposition of the acquired asset rather than its perceived value on the transaction date.
New Orleans Saints Return
Watson's Saints tenure was more limited. He appeared in five games in each of 1977, 1978 and 1979, with five total starts, all during the 1978 season. That result supports the C grade for New Orleans Saints. When a draft choice is involved, the selected player's team-specific contribution matters; production for another club later in the player's career is not credited back to the original receiver.
Value in Hindsight
The important distinction is between acquiring an asset and actually receiving football value from it. San Francisco 49ers gets credit only for what Paul Seal produced for that franchise, while New Orleans Saints is evaluated the same way for John Watson. This makes the comparison concrete and prevents later-career production, unexercised conditions or unsupported pick assumptions from inflating either side.
Final Verdict
San Francisco 49ers Win. San Francisco 49ers receives B-, and New Orleans Saints receives C. The verdict follows the documented package and the team-specific outcomes above, with the grades reflecting the realized return for each club.