New Orleans reacquired defensive lineman Richard Neal from…
New Orleans reacquired defensive lineman Richard Neal from the Jets on February 21, 1978 for the seventh-round pick that became No. 169. Neal appeared in two games and made one start for the Saints that season. New York used the selection on Levi Armstrong, who did not record an NFL regular-season career. The Saints gained only modest value, but it was still the clearer realized return.
New Orleans Saints Received
- player Richard Neal
New York Jets Received
- pick 1978 7th round pick (169th overall, Levi Armstrong)
Trade Analysis
The Trade
The Saints and Jets completed a simple veteran-for-pick exchange on February 21, 1978. New Orleans received defensive lineman Richard Neal, while New York received the Saints' seventh-round selection in the 1978 draft. Draft records identify that selection as No. 169 overall and show the Jets using it on Levi Armstrong.
New Orleans' Return
Neal's second Saints stint was brief. He appeared in two games during the 1978 season and made one start. That is not enough to call the acquisition a major success, especially for a player New Orleans had previously known well. Still, the Saints did receive actual regular-season participation from the player acquired in the transaction.
New York's Return
The Jets converted Neal into a draft choice rather than losing the veteran without compensation. That was sensible roster management, but the pick did not develop into meaningful NFL production. Armstrong, the player taken at No. 169, does not show an NFL regular-season playing career. The theoretical value of the seventh-rounder therefore did not become on-field value for New York.
Why the Margin Is Small
Neither side changed its franchise trajectory. New Orleans got only two games and one start; New York got a draft selection that did not produce an NFL contributor. The Saints' edge comes solely from receiving some measurable regular-season use rather than none.
Final Verdict
New Orleans Saints Win, narrowly. New Orleans earns a C because Neal supplied a small amount of actual 1978 service. The Jets earn a D-plus because they secured a draft asset but did not turn it into NFL production. This is a marginal win, not a high-impact transaction.
Richard Neal at least appeared in two games and started once after returning to New Orleans, while the Jets used the acquired seventh-round choice on Levi Armstrong, who never established an NFL career.