New Orleans sent cornerback Robert Massey to Phoenix on…
New Orleans sent cornerback Robert Massey to Phoenix on August 19, 1991 for offensive lineman Derek Kennard and a 1992 fifth-round selection. Kennard became a regular Saints starter, including all 16 games in both 1992 and 1993, while the extra pick later became part of another draft move. Massey started extensively for Phoenix and intercepted five passes in 1992, including three returned for touchdowns.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- player Robert Massey
New Orleans Saints Received
- player Derek Kennard (Craig)
- pick 1992 fifth round pick (#118-Rogerick Green)
Trade Analysis
Why the Deal Happened
New Orleans sent cornerback Robert Massey to Phoenix on August 19, 1991 for offensive lineman Derek Kennard and a 1992 fifth-round choice. The Saints were addressing the offensive line while adding draft value; the Cardinals were acquiring a former first-round corner who could step into the secondary. Both clubs received players capable of starting immediately, making this more substantial than a simple late-pick exchange.
What Phoenix Cardinals and New Orleans Saints Received
Kennard became a regular starter for New Orleans, including all 16 games in both 1992 and 1993, and the Saints also controlled pick No. 118. New Orleans later included that fifth-rounder with No. 79 in a move up to No. 72, where it selected cornerback Tyrone Legette. Massey started extensively for Phoenix, including 12 starts and five interceptions in 1992, with three interception-return touchdowns that season.
How the Value Developed
The outcomes are unusually balanced. New Orleans obtained multi-year interior-line stability and used the extra pick as part of another draft maneuver. Phoenix received meaningful secondary production from Massey, whose 1992 season was the most explosive individual year tied directly to the exchange. Neither team clearly squandered its asset, and each side received performance aligned with the reason it made the trade.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. The Saints' combination of Kennard's starting tenure and useful fifth-round capital is strong, while the Cardinals received a productive starting corner with a standout 1992 season. Both sides earn a B. A narrow New Orleans edge is possible if the extra pick is emphasized, but the direct team value is close enough that an even ruling better represents the sustained contribution each organization actually received.
Kennard supplied New Orleans multi-year starting line play and additional draft flexibility, while Massey gave Phoenix meaningful secondary production highlighted by his five-interception 1992 season.