New Orleans Saints and Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans… #2
New Orleans Saints and Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans completed this trade on 1971-06-14. Tilleman immediately became an every-game Oilers starter and delivered an outstanding 1972 season. New Orleans also received real value through Hines and draft capital, leaving both teams with meaningful returns rather than a clear loser. The post-trade results provide the clearest measure of what each club gained from the exchange. The historical return supports a Even Trade verdict, with New Orleans Saints graded B and Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans graded B.
New Orleans Saints Received
- player Glen Ray Hines
- player Jess Lewis
- pick 1972 second round pick (#31-Willie Hall)
- pick 1973 third round pick (#53) [later traded to Dallas Cowboys for Tom Stincic ]
Tennessee Titans Received
- player Mike Tilleman
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
New Orleans sent defensive lineman Mike Tilleman to Houston for Glen Ray Hines, Jess Lewis and two future draft choices. The Saints later used the second-rounder on Willie Hall and moved the third-round asset in another transaction. The original transaction matters because later pick movement can blur what each club actually received. This version keeps the identified assets attached to the correct side.
What New Orleans Saints Received
New Orleans Saints came away with Glen Ray Hines, Jess Lewis, 1972 second round pick (#31-Willie Hall), 1973 third round pick (#53) [later traded to Dallas Cowboys for Tom Stincic]. Tilleman immediately became an every-game Oilers starter and delivered an outstanding 1972 season. New Orleans also received real value through Hines and draft capital, leaving both teams with meaningful returns rather than a clear loser. The grade reflects both the quality of that return and how directly it benefited the franchise.
What Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans Received
Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans received Mike Tilleman. The comparison is not based only on the apparent value of the package on trade day. It weighs what those assets became, how long the player contribution lasted, whether a draft choice produced usable service, and whether either side quickly moved on without meaningful return.
How the Value Aged
Tilleman immediately became an every-game Oilers starter and delivered an outstanding 1972 season. New Orleans also received real value through Hines and draft capital, leaving both teams with meaningful returns rather than a clear loser. That is the key separator in the hindsight grade. The transaction can still have made sense for both clubs at the time, especially when veterans, roster needs and future choices were valued differently than they are today. The verdict instead measures the football value each franchise ultimately captured from the assets received in this specific exchange.
Final Verdict
The best hindsight result is Even Trade. New Orleans Saints earns a B and Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans earns a B. Regrades to Even because Tilleman was excellent for Houston while New Orleans also received a substantial multi-asset package. The grade spread stays proportional to the actual impact: a clear but modest advantage remains modest, while a long-term starter or star compared with little return creates a wider separation.