New Orleans acquired Margene Adkins from Dallas on February…
New Orleans acquired Margene Adkins from Dallas on February 1, 1972, and the Cowboys received the second-round pick used on linebacker John Babinecz at No. 39. Adkins offered the Saints veteran receiving depth, but Dallas turned the exchange into a player who appeared in 26 games over two Cowboys seasons. That stronger and more durable return gives Dallas the clear hindsight edge.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- pick 1972 second round pick (#39-John Babinecz)
New Orleans Saints Received
- player Margene Adkins
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
The February 1, 1972 exchange sent veteran receiver Margene Adkins to New Orleans and delivered Dallas the second-round selection used on John Babinecz, 39th overall. Dallas draft records and Babinecz’s player history align on the selection, giving the trade a straightforward player-for-pick structure.
What New Orleans Received
Adkins brought professional experience to a Saints roster still searching for stability. He was part of New Orleans’ 1972 offense, so this was not a transaction in which the acquiring team received nothing. Even so, his Saints tenure did not create the kind of sustained production or franchise impact that would outweigh a high second-round draft asset.
What Dallas Received
Babinecz immediately made the Cowboys’ roster. He appeared in all 14 regular-season games as a rookie in 1972 and stayed with Dallas for a second season. He was not a long-term starter or star, but two years of actual linebacker depth from a second-round selection is concrete value. His later NFL career also confirms that Dallas selected a legitimate professional player rather than a draft miss. Babinecz also remained an NFL player beyond Dallas, appearing for Chicago in 1975, which reinforces that the selection produced a genuine professional rather than a failed camp prospect.
Final Verdict
The Cowboys win because they converted an expendable veteran into a premium day-two choice and received usable NFL service from the resulting player. New Orleans got a veteran who could help in the near term, keeping the Saints away from a disastrous grade. Dallas’ B+ and New Orleans’ C reflect a clear but not franchise-altering advantage.