Washington acquired veteran guard Ron Saul from Houston for…
Washington acquired veteran guard Ron Saul from Houston for three future draft choices, one each in the seventh round of 1977, sixth round of 1978, and third round of 1979. Saul became a durable Washington starter, appearing in 81 games with 77 starts over six seasons. That sustained line value outweighed Houston’s diffuse return from the future-pick package.
Tennessee Titans Received
- pick 1977 seventh round pick (#188-Rich Martini)
- pick 1978 sixth round pick (probably #157) [later traded to New Orleans Saints for Cliff Parsley]
- pick 1979 third round pick (#69) [later traded to Indianapolis/Baltimore Colts for 1979 third round pick (#72-Kenny King) and 1979 seventh round pick (#171-Tim Ries)]
Washington Commanders Received
- player Ron Saul
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Washington acquired guard Ron Saul from Houston on August 17, 1976, for a seventh-round choice in 1977, a sixth-round choice in 1978, and a third-round choice in 1979. Washington’s historical media guides state that date and the three-year pick sequence, while draft-transaction histories trace the later selections and subsequent movement of some of that capital.
What Washington Received
Saul became far more than a short-term veteran patch. He spent six seasons with Washington, appeared in 81 regular-season games, and started 77 of them. He was a regular at left guard during the late 1970s and remained part of the line through 1981. For a team giving up three future choices, that degree of dependable starting production is the outcome that makes the cost defensible.
What Houston Received
Houston gained three chances to turn one veteran lineman into younger assets. The 1977 seventh-round choice became Rich Martini, while the later picks moved through additional transactions. The 1978 sixth-round asset was later sent to New Orleans, and the 1979 third-round asset was moved to Baltimore in a deal that brought back additional selections. The return therefore had breadth, but its direct on-field impact was less concentrated than Saul’s Washington tenure.
Why Washington Gets the Edge
Future picks have real value, especially when they can be recycled into more assets, but this trade is ultimately about realized production. Washington obtained a starting offensive lineman for six seasons. Houston obtained a collection of later choices without a comparably durable centerpiece directly emerging from the package.
Final Verdict
Washington receives a B+ and Houston receives a C+. The Oilers extracted reasonable future capital from a veteran, but the Commanders obtained the strongest result: six years of useful line play and 77 starts from Saul. That sustained contribution gives Washington the win.