Arizona acquired veteran defensive end Elois Grooms from New…
Arizona acquired veteran defensive end Elois Grooms from New Orleans for a 1983 third-round pick that became running back Cliff Austin at No. 66. Grooms started 26 games for the Cardinals from 1982 through 1984 and recorded 7.5 sacks in those three seasons. Austin spent only his 1983 rookie year with the Saints and produced 41 yards from scrimmage, giving Arizona the much stronger direct return.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- player Elois Grooms
New Orleans Saints Received
- pick 1983 third round pick (#66-Cliff Austin)
Trade Analysis
Why New Orleans Made the Move
Grooms had been a Saints starter for years, but New Orleans chose to turn the veteran defensive end into a future third-round selection. The 1983 pick landed at No. 66, giving the Saints a reasonable opportunity to add a younger player while moving on from a veteran who was entering the later stage of his career.
What Arizona Received
The Cardinals obtained immediate starting value. Grooms started nine games in 1982, 11 in 1983 and six in 1984. NFL statistics credit him with 4.5 sacks in 1982, one in 1983 and two in 1984. He remained on Arizona's roster into 1985, giving the Cardinals several seasons of useful defensive-line production from a single mid-round pick.
How the Saints Used the Pick
New Orleans selected Clemson running back Cliff Austin 66th overall in 1983. Austin appeared in 11 games for the Saints but had only four carries for 16 yards and two catches for 25 yards. He later found more work with Atlanta, but those later seasons did not create value for New Orleans.
Why Arizona Wins the Comparison
This is a case where the veteran delivered more to his new club than the draft choice delivered to the team that acquired the pick. Grooms supplied multiple years of starts and pass-rush production, while Austin's Saints tenure was brief and lightly used. The difference is large enough to move beyond a marginal win.
Final Verdict
Arizona earns an A- and New Orleans a D+. The Saints made a defensible age-for-pick decision, but the actual result favored the Cardinals decisively. Grooms became a productive multi-year starter, while the No. 66 selection produced only one limited season for New Orleans.