New Orleans traded linebacker Dave Simmons to Dallas for a…
New Orleans traded linebacker Dave Simmons to Dallas for a 1969 fourth-round pick, No. 102, later used on tackle Bob Hudspeth. Simmons played 13 games for the Cowboys in 1968 and intercepted a pass before being released the next year. Hudspeth did not establish an NFL career. The return was short-lived on both sides, but Dallas received actual regular-season contribution and therefore gets the narrow win.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- player Dave Simmons (Alan)
New Orleans Saints Received
- pick 1969 fourth round pick (#102-Bob Hudspeth)
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
On August 14, 1968, New Orleans traded linebacker Dave Simmons to Dallas for the Cowboys' 1969 fourth-round selection. The Saints eventually used that pick, No. 102 overall, on Southern Illinois tackle Bob Hudspeth. Simmons' transaction history records the move to Dallas on the same date, and New Orleans's draft history identifies Hudspeth as one of its fourth-round selections in 1969.
What Dallas Got
The Cowboys added experienced linebacker depth for the 1968 season. Simmons appeared in 13 games, mostly as a reserve, and recorded one interception for Dallas. He was released before the 1969 season, so the acquisition did not become a long-term piece. Still, Dallas received a full season of active-roster service from the player it acquired, which matters in a trade involving a mid-round draft choice rather than premium capital.
What New Orleans Got
The Saints converted Simmons into a fourth-round pick and used it on Hudspeth. The process was sensible for a young expansion-era roster: move a veteran for a chance to add a younger lineman. The pick did not pay off, however. Hudspeth did not establish an NFL regular-season career, leaving New Orleans without meaningful on-field return from the selection. That failed pick outcome undercuts what was reasonable asset management at the time.
Final Verdict
Dallas wins narrowly because Simmons actually contributed for a season while Hudspeth did not become an NFL player. The Cowboys receive a C+ for useful but temporary depth. New Orleans gets a D+: obtaining a fourth-round pick was defensible, but the realized value of the player selected with it was essentially zero. This is a modest win, not a franchise-shaping transaction.