Detroit moved center Dave Thompson and the No. 13 pick to New…
Detroit moved center Dave Thompson and the No. 13 pick to New Orleans for the No. 8 pick and a 1975 sixth-round choice. The Lions used No. 8 on linebacker Ed O'Neil, who played six seasons for Detroit and started 60 games; the later sixth-rounder became Fred Cooper, who did not play in the NFL. New Orleans selected Rick Middleton at No. 13, and both Middleton and Thompson lasted only two seasons with the Saints. That balance of realized value gives the edge to Detroit Lions.
Detroit Lions Received
- pick 1974 first round pick (#8-Ed O'Neil)
- pick 1975 sixth round pick (#138-Fred Cooper)
New Orleans Saints Received
- player Dave Thompson
- pick 1974 first round pick (#13-Rick Middleton)
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Detroit moved center Dave Thompson and the No. 13 pick to New Orleans for the No. 8 pick and a 1975 sixth-round choice. The exchange fit a common 1970s roster calculation: one club preferred an established player or immediate help, while the other accepted draft capital or a different asset path. The important hindsight question is not the nominal round alone, but what each team actually received once the move played out.
What Detroit Lions Received
The Lions used No. 8 on linebacker Ed O'Neil, who played six seasons for Detroit and started 60 games; the later sixth-rounder became Fred Cooper, who did not play in the NFL. For Detroit Lions, that outcome is the main measure of the return. Immediate playing time matters, but so do durability, starts, scoring, and whether the acquired asset remained useful beyond a short stop. The result gives Detroit Lions a B+ because the club's realized contribution must be judged against what it surrendered.
What New Orleans Saints Received
New Orleans selected Rick Middleton at No. 13, and both Middleton and Thompson lasted only two seasons with the Saints. That gives New Orleans Saints a different value profile from the other side. A draft choice only becomes valuable when it turns into useful football production, while a veteran's value depends on how much he actually contributes after the trade. On that basis, New Orleans Saints earns a C-.
Why the Verdict Lands Here
O'Neil's sustained starting value created the clearest long-term return in the exchange. The comparison therefore rests on direct, realized NFL value rather than the theoretical price of the assets on the day of the deal. Longevity and meaningful contribution carry more weight than a pick number by itself, and a short stay can still matter when the opposing return produces even less.
Final Verdict
Detroit Lions Win. Detroit Lions receives a B+, while New Orleans Saints receives a C-. The grades reflect the confirmed package and the football contribution that followed for each franchise.