New England Patriots received conditional 1973 sixth round…
New England Patriots received conditional 1973 sixth round pick (not conveyed), while Pittsburgh Steelers received Ron Gardin. New England sent Ron Gardin to Pittsburgh with a conditional 1973 sixth-round return attached. The condition depended on Gardin making Pittsburgh's roster and was not met, so the pick was never conveyed. The supported history provides enough detail to judge the exchange without overstating uncertain downstream information. New England Patriots earns a D grade, and the overall verdict is Even Trade.
New England Patriots Received
- pick conditional 1973 sixth round pick (not conveyed)
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- player Ron Gardin
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1972-06-28, New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers completed an exchange in which New England Patriots received conditional 1973 sixth round pick (not conveyed), while Pittsburgh Steelers received Ron Gardin. The deal was modest in scale, but its core terms are clear enough to evaluate. The useful question is what each club actually turned the acquired player or selection into, rather than what the asset might have become in a different setting.
New England Patriots Return
New England Patriots came away with conditional 1973 sixth round pick (not conveyed). That side receives a D. The grade reflects direct football value from the acquired asset, including regular-season contribution, starting work, or identifiable draft value where applicable. A smaller return can still be useful, but the score stays proportional to the size of the exchange and the length of the benefit.
Pittsburgh Steelers Return
Pittsburgh Steelers received Ron Gardin, which earns a D. The same standard applies here. Immediate playing time counts, durable production counts more, and a selection that never produces meaningful NFL value receives limited credit. The comparison does not award extra value for possibilities that the historical record does not firmly establish.
Value in Hindsight
New England sent Ron Gardin to Pittsburgh with a conditional 1973 sixth-round return attached. The condition depended on Gardin making Pittsburgh's roster and was not met, so the pick was never conveyed. That supported outcome gives the clearest hindsight measure of the transaction. Minor date or pick-identity uncertainty remains visible when necessary, but it does not erase an exchange whose base terms are supported. The evaluation therefore follows the value that can be tied directly to what each club received.
Final Verdict
The final judgment is Even Trade because neither side produced enough durable value to create a meaningful separation. New England Patriots receives D, while Pittsburgh Steelers receives D. The grades are intentionally scaled to the deal: a useful role or late-round return can win an exchange without being treated like a franchise-changing haul. The final call rests on realized football value and the strongest supported description of the package.