New Orleans traded rookie punter Cliff Parsley to the Houston…
New Orleans traded rookie punter Cliff Parsley to the Houston Oilers on September 12, 1977 for a draft choice that became the 1978 sixth-round pick at No. 157 overall, Francis Chesley. The choice had originated with Washington before moving through Houston. Parsley became Houston's punter for six seasons and 82 games, while Chesley never played a regular-season game for New Orleans.
New Orleans Saints Received
- pick 1978 sixth-round pick, No. 157 overall (Francis Chesley), originally Washington choice via Houston
Tennessee Titans Received
- player Cliff Parsley
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
New Orleans moved rookie punter Cliff Parsley to Houston on September 12, 1977. Draft records connect the compensation to the 1978 sixth-round choice at No. 157 overall, used by the Saints on Wyoming linebacker Francis Chesley. The selection originally belonged to Washington and reached New Orleans through Houston.
Houston's Return
Parsley became an immediate specialist solution for the Oilers. He handled punting duties for Houston from 1977 through 1982 and appeared in 82 NFL games. For a sixth-round choice, that is a substantial amount of direct roster value, especially at a position where continuity matters and teams can carry the same specialist for years.
New Orleans' Pick
The Saints used No. 157 on Chesley. Although the pick itself is clearly traceable, the player did not provide comparable New Orleans production. Chesley did not become a Saints regular and later appeared in only one NFL game, with Green Bay. The draft return therefore failed to match the player New Orleans had surrendered.
Comparing the Outcomes
This is one of the clearer old specialist trades once the pick is followed to its final selection. Houston received six seasons from Parsley. New Orleans received a sixth-round opportunity but did not turn it into a contributor. The difference is not based on draft position alone; it is the gap between sustained service and almost no realized Saints production.
Final Verdict
Tennessee Titans Win. The Oilers side receives a B for acquiring a six-year punter with a late-round pick. New Orleans receives a C-minus because the Saints obtained fair draft value in theory but failed to convert No. 157 into useful production, while Parsley became a durable Houston specialist.
Parsley became Houston's punter for six seasons and eighty-two games, while Chesley never produced a regular-season contribution for New Orleans after the deal, overall in the seasons that followed.