New Orleans acquired defensive end Andy Dorris from St. Louis…
New Orleans acquired defensive end Andy Dorris from St. Louis for the 1975 eighth-round pick used on John Adams. Dorris became a meaningful Saints contributor, playing 42 games from 1974 through 1976 and starting 21 of them. Adams never appeared in an NFL regular-season game, so the Saints received far more realized football value from the exchange.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- pick 1975 eighth round pick (#188-John Adams (W.))
New Orleans Saints Received
- player Andy Dorris
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
On October 10, 1973, the St. Louis Cardinals traded defensive end Andy Dorris to New Orleans for a future eighth-round selection. Draft-trade records identify the choice as pick No. 188 in 1975, which St. Louis used on West Virginia defensive tackle John Adams. The transaction came only weeks into Dorris's rookie season after he had already moved from Cleveland to St. Louis.
New Orleans Return
Dorris became a useful Saints defender. After appearing once for New Orleans in 1973, he played all 14 games in 1974, 13 in 1975, and 14 in 1976. He started three games in 1974, 12 in 1975, and six in 1976. That is substantial playing time for a player acquired for an eighth-round choice. Dorris later continued his NFL career with Seattle and Houston, reinforcing that the Saints acquired a legitimate professional contributor rather than a short-term camp body.
Arizona Return
The Cardinals converted the pick into Adams at No. 188. Draft records list the selection, but Adams has no NFL regular-season career in the professional record. St. Louis therefore received a draft opportunity without receiving comparable on-field production from the player selected.
Final Verdict
New Orleans wins clearly. The Saints obtained three full seasons of defensive-line service and 21 starts from Dorris, while the Cardinals' eighth-round return produced no regular-season NFL games. A B for New Orleans and D+ for Arizona reflects a strong result at modest transaction scale without inflating the deal into a franchise-altering move. The modest draft cost also makes the return especially favorable for New Orleans.