St. Louis acquired veteran defensive back Ken Reaves from New…
St. Louis acquired veteran defensive back Ken Reaves from New Orleans on October 17, 1974 for the 1975 fourth-round choice that became Charlie Hall at No. 99. Reaves immediately joined the Cardinals and remained there through 1977, intercepting eight passes for St. Louis over those seasons. New Orleans converted the pick into Hall, but the selected player did not match the multi-season defensive contribution Reaves supplied the Cardinals. That balance of realized value gives the edge to Arizona Cardinals / St. Louis Cardinals.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- player Ken Reaves
New Orleans Saints Received
- pick 1975 fourth round pick (#99-Charlie Hall)
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
St. Louis acquired veteran defensive back Ken Reaves from New Orleans on October 17, 1974 for the 1975 fourth-round choice that became Charlie Hall at No. 99. 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 St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals Received
Reaves immediately joined the Cardinals and remained there through 1977, intercepting eight passes for St. Louis over those seasons. For St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals, 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 St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals a B because the club's realized contribution must be judged against what it surrendered.
What New Orleans Saints Received
New Orleans converted the pick into Hall, but the selected player did not match the multi-season defensive contribution Reaves supplied the Cardinals. 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
The deal therefore rewards St. Louis for turning a mid-round future choice into a proven starter with several useful seasons left. 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
Arizona Cardinals / St. Louis Cardinals Win. St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals 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.