New Orleans and New England swapped two former high draft…
New Orleans and New England swapped two former high draft picks who had fallen out of favor, with wide receiver Bethel Johnson going to the Saints and defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan going to the Patriots. Because neither acquired player produced regular-season value for his new club, the fairest judgment is an even trade with poor grades on both sides.
New England Patriots Received
- player Johnathan Sullivan
New Orleans Saints Received
- player Bethel Johnson
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
New Orleans and New England swapped two former high draft picks who had fallen out of favor, with wide receiver Bethel Johnson going to the Saints and defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan going to the Patriots. At the time, each club had a practical roster reason for acting, and the price was small enough or targeted enough to make the exchange understandable before the later results were known.
What the Returns Produced
Johnson did not make the Saints' regular-season roster, so New Orleans received no game contribution from the player it acquired. Sullivan likewise never appeared in a regular-season game for New England and was released in October, leaving the Patriots without meaningful on-field return. Looking only at the names exchanged on the transaction date misses part of the story, because actual playing time, role, longevity and any later use of draft capital determine how much football value each side ultimately created.
How the Value Developed
Because neither acquired player produced regular-season value for his new club, the fairest judgment is an even trade with poor grades on both sides. The longer view matters most here: a short burst of production can still justify a modest acquisition cost, while a draft choice can become more valuable when it is converted into a durable starter or additional selections.
Why This Trade Still Matters
This deal is a useful reminder that trade value should follow the complete return rather than stop at the first transaction line. Later pick movement, roster tenure and meaningful postseason or starting contributions all belong in the comparison. That approach gives both teams credit for what their assets actually became instead of grading only the original labels.
Final Verdict
Even Trade is the best fit. New England Patriots earns a D+, while New Orleans Saints earns a D+. Those marks account for the cost paid, the direct production received, the length of each contribution and any important downstream draft value. The gap is intentionally narrow when both sides found useful returns and wider when one club received little lasting football value.