Atlanta sent Dick Absher and a 1969 sixth-round pick to the…
Atlanta sent Dick Absher and a 1969 sixth-round pick to the Rams for the fourth-round selection used on tight end Jim Mitchell. Mitchell became one of the best early players in Falcons history, starting all 155 games of his 11-year Atlanta career, catching 305 passes for 4,358 yards and 28 touchdowns, and earning two Pro Bowl selections. The return dwarfed what Los Angeles received, making this an overwhelming Falcons win.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- pick 1969 fourth round pick (#81-Jim Mitchell)
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Richard Absher / Dick Absher
- pick 1969 sixth round pick (#133-A.Z. Drones)
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
On January 28, 1969, Atlanta sent linebacker Dick Absher and a 1969 sixth-round selection, No. 133 overall, to Los Angeles for a 1969 fourth-round pick, No. 81. The Rams used the sixth-round choice on A.Z. Drones. Atlanta used the fourth-rounder on Prairie View A&M tight end Jim Mitchell. Draft transaction records connect both selections directly to the exchange.
What Atlanta Got
Mitchell became an extraordinary return on a fourth-round pick. He started all 14 games as a rookie in 1969 and earned a Pro Bowl selection immediately. He remained Atlanta's starting tight end for 11 seasons, finishing with 155 games and 155 starts. NFL records credit him with 305 receptions for 4,358 yards and 28 touchdowns. He made another Pro Bowl in 1972. Few early Falcons trades produced a player with comparable durability, production, and sustained lineup importance.
What Los Angeles Got
The Rams received Absher and the pick used on Drones, but neither created meaningful Los Angeles value. Absher did not appear in a regular-season game for the Rams; his next substantial NFL work came with New Orleans. Drones did not become an NFL contributor comparable to Mitchell. Los Angeles therefore gave up the selection that produced an 11-year Atlanta starter without receiving a lasting player in return.
Final Verdict
Atlanta wins by a massive margin. Mitchell was not merely a useful starter; he became a durable franchise fixture who never missed a start during his Falcons career and twice reached the Pro Bowl. The Rams' return produced essentially no comparable value. An A+ for Atlanta is warranted because the club transformed a modest package into 155 starts and more than 4,300 receiving yards. Los Angeles receives a D for surrendering that outcome without securing a meaningful long-term return.