New Orleans acquired quarterback Richard Todd from the Jets…
New Orleans acquired quarterback Richard Todd from the Jets for the 1984 first-round selection that became linebacker Ron Faurot at No. 15. Todd started 14 games for the Saints in 1984 but struggled with 11 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions. Faurot played only 20 games for New York, so the Saints receive a narrow win despite modest results.
New Orleans Saints Received
- player Richard Todd
New York Jets Received
- pick 1984 first round pick (#15-Ron Faurot)
Trade Analysis
The February 18, 1984 transaction is straightforward: New Orleans received quarterback Richard Todd, and the Jets received the Saints' first-round pick. New York used that selection at No. 15 on linebacker Ron Faurot. Team historical materials from both franchises support the exchange, giving a firm basis for comparing the careers that followed.
Todd did not become a long-term answer for the Saints. NFL statistics show him appearing in 15 games and starting 14 in 1984, throwing for 2,178 yards with 11 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. He returned for only two games in 1985. Those numbers are not strong enough to justify a high New Orleans grade, but the Saints at least received a full season of starting-quarterback service from the veteran they targeted.
Faurot's career was even shorter. He played 15 games as a rookie and five in 1985, totaling 20 NFL appearances for the Jets. His rookie season included two sacks, but the first-round investment did not develop into a durable defensive starter. That short lifespan is especially costly because New York held the No. 15 choice.
Neither team produced a major success, so the verdict should stay restrained. The Saints win narrowly because a season of quarterback starts carried more realized value than the Jets received from Faurot, even with Todd's turnover problems. A C+ for New Orleans reflects usable but disappointing quarterback production; a D+ for New York reflects a premium draft choice that lasted only two seasons. This is a modest winner, not a franchise-changing steal.