New Orleans acquired defensive end Willie Townes from Dallas…
New Orleans acquired defensive end Willie Townes from Dallas on September 9, 1970 for a 1971 fourth-round pick that became Joe Carter at No. 80. Townes’ Saints tenure was brief, but he appeared in six games and started four. Carter never appeared in an NFL regular-season game for Dallas. Neither return was large, yet New Orleans received actual playing value while the Cowboys’ draft conversion produced none, giving the Saints a narrow win.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- pick 1971 fourth round pick (#80-Joe Carter (a))
New Orleans Saints Received
- player Willie Townes
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Dallas sent defensive end Willie Townes to New Orleans on September 9, 1970 for a fourth-round selection in the 1971 draft. Draft transaction records identify the pick as No. 80 overall, which the Cowboys used on Grambling tight end Joe Carter. Dallas was moving a player who had missed the entire 1969 season, while New Orleans was betting that the former starter could still contribute.
What New Orleans Received
Townes did provide some immediate value. NFL records show him appearing in six games for the Saints in 1970 and starting four. That was a short return, and 1970 proved to be his final NFL season, so New Orleans did not acquire a long-term defensive piece. Still, regular-season starts are tangible value. For a club surrendering a fourth-round pick, six games and four starts constitute a modest return rather than a complete miss.
What Dallas Received
The Cowboys recovered a future draft asset and used it on Carter with the 80th overall selection in 1971. That was sound asset conversion in principle, particularly because Townes’ health and weight issues had made his Dallas future uncertain. Carter did not convert the pick into on-field value. His transaction history shows that he signed with Dallas but left the squad in July 1971, and he never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. Later attempts to return to NFL rosters did not change that result.
Final Verdict
Neither side earned a major payoff. New Orleans received only a partial season from Townes, while Dallas received a fourth-round pick whose selected player never reached the regular-season field. The Saints therefore get the narrow edge because four starts are more realized football value than zero appearances. C+ for New Orleans and C for Dallas reflect a low-separation outcome. The trade should no longer be graded as a clear Cowboys win; the modest hindsight advantage belongs to the Saints.