New Orleans traded defensive end and linebacker Joe Campbell…
New Orleans traded defensive end and linebacker Joe Campbell to Oakland on October 14, 1980 for a sixth-round draft choice. Saints history identifies that Raiders choice as the 1981 sixth-rounder used at No. 166 overall on linebacker Glen Redd. Campbell joined Oakland's Super Bowl XV championship team, while Redd became a five-season Saint and appeared in 76 NFL games.
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- player Joe Campbell
New Orleans Saints Received
- pick 1981 sixth-round pick, No. 166 overall (Glen Redd)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Oakland acquired Joe Campbell from New Orleans on October 14, 1980. Contemporary reporting states that the Raiders paid a sixth-round draft choice, and Saints historical material later identifies the exact choice: the 1981 sixth-round pick used at No. 166 overall on BYU linebacker Glen Redd.
Oakland's Immediate Return
Campbell arrived as a former Saints first-round selection who could play on the edge or at linebacker. He joined a veteran Raiders roster during a championship push and appeared for the club in 1980. Oakland went on to win Super Bowl XV, giving Campbell immediate team success even though he was not one of the roster's central stars.
New Orleans' Draft Return
The Saints converted the pick into Glen Redd. Redd played 76 NFL games across five seasons and started throughout his 1981 rookie year, when he became a substantial part of the New Orleans defense. That is strong realized value for a sixth-round selection and gives the Saints more than a theoretical draft return.
Comparing the Outcomes
Both clubs received something useful. Oakland added a veteran for a championship roster at a modest price. New Orleans gained a future starter and multi-year contributor from a late-round pick. Redd's longer Saints tenure gives New Orleans a statistical edge, but the Raiders were trading for immediate help in a season that ended with a title.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Both teams receive a C-plus. New Orleans turned the choice into a productive five-year linebacker, while Oakland added Campbell cheaply during a Super Bowl-winning season. The Saints won the longevity comparison, but the Raiders' timing and low acquisition cost keep the overall exchange balanced.
Oakland received immediate championship-season depth from Joe Campbell, while New Orleans converted the sixth-round return into Glen Redd, who played 76 NFL games and five Saints seasons in New Orleans.