New Orleans sent Richard Neal and Delles Howell to the Jets…
New Orleans sent Richard Neal and Delles Howell to the Jets for 1973 second- and third-round picks. Steve Baumgartner became a useful Saints defender, but the Jets received the better combined player return: Neal developed into a multi-year starter and Howell added three productive seasons in New York. That sustained two-player contribution gives the Jets the hindsight edge.
New Orleans Saints Received
- pick 1973 second round pick (#51-Steve Baumgartner)
- pick 1973 third round pick (#66-Pete Van Valkenburg)
New York Jets Received
- player Richard Neal
- player Delles Howell
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
On January 29, 1973, New Orleans traded defensive lineman Richard Neal and defensive back Delles Howell to the New York Jets for two 1973 draft choices, No. 51 in the second round and No. 66 in the third. Jets historical material independently describes the same two-player package, and the draft trail identifies Steve Baumgartner at No. 51 and Pete Van Valkenburg at No. 66. The duplicated Richard Neal label in the older record is removed here because it represents the same player twice.
New York Return
Neal became the centerpiece for the Jets. He remained with New York through 1977 and developed into a regular starter on the defensive front. Howell also gave the Jets meaningful value, spending three seasons with the club and recording eight interceptions. Together, the two veterans supplied multiple seasons of defensive production rather than a short rental.
New Orleans Return
Baumgartner was a legitimate Saints return. He played for New Orleans from 1973 through 1977 and later continued his NFL career in Houston, so the second-round selection clearly produced useful value. The third-round selection is less favorable to the Saints. Van Valkenburg's NFL record does not show a New Orleans stint, which limits the direct return from that portion of the package.
Final Verdict
The Jets win, but New Orleans still deserves credit for Baumgartner. New York received two defenders who both contributed, with Neal becoming a long-term starter and Howell adding ball production in the secondary. A B+ for the Jets and B- for the Saints reflects a meaningful advantage without treating the deal as a rout.