Chicago Bears received Don Croftcheck from New Orleans Saints…
Chicago Bears received Don Croftcheck from New Orleans Saints for Doug Atkins and Herman Lee. Croftcheck played only nine games with two starts for Chicago. Across the complete player and draft outcomes, the exchange supports the New Orleans Saints Win verdict while still crediting the other club for the useful value it realized.
Chicago Bears Received
- player Don Croftcheck
New Orleans Saints Received
- player Doug Atkins
- player Herman Lee
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
On 1967-07-16, Chicago Bears received Don Croftcheck, while New Orleans Saints received Doug Atkins and Herman Lee. Both clubs' historical materials place the trade on July 16, 1967, so the date is corrected from July 15 while the existing ID and slug remain unchanged. The exchange is best judged by what those assets actually became for the acquiring clubs, rather than by the apparent size of each package on the day of the deal.
What Chicago Bears Got
Chicago received guard Don Croftcheck, whose Bears tenure amounted to only nine games and two starts. That return did not approach the impact Atkins supplied New Orleans. That outcome gives the Chicago Bears side a clear basis for its D grade. The value here is tied to real roster contribution, draft conversion, durability and the length of time the acquired assets helped the club. Short stays and assets that never reached the field count far less than multi-season production.
What New Orleans Saints Got
New Orleans obtained instant credibility from Doug Atkins, who started 36 games across three Saints seasons and still earned second-team All-Pro recognition late in his career. Herman Lee also came to the expansion club in the package. That result supports a A+ grade for New Orleans Saints. The comparison also accounts for timing: immediate production can matter even when it does not last, while draft capital becomes especially valuable when it turns into a long-term starter or when the player sent away performs at a high level for years.
Final Verdict
The final judgment is New Orleans Saints Win. The decisive factor is the gap in realized football value between the two returns, not simply the number of names or picks exchanged. Chicago Bears earns a D, while New Orleans Saints earns a A+. The result reflects the full historical arc of the players and selections involved and leaves room for useful short-term contributions on the losing side without treating them as equal to the stronger long-term return.