Atlanta Falcons received Steve Smith while Philadelphia…
Atlanta Falcons received Steve Smith while Philadelphia Eagles received Art Malone. Atlanta received veteran tackle Steve Smith, but his NFL career had effectively ended and he generated no regular-season value for the Falcons after the exchange. The acquisition therefore provided no meaningful return on the player Atlanta sent away. That outcome supports a D grade for Atlanta Falcons in this trade.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- player Steve Smith
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- player Art Malone
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1975-02-17, Atlanta Falcons received Steve Smith, while Philadelphia Eagles received Art Malone. The exchange was modest in scale, so the verdict depends on the football value each club actually realized from its return rather than the face value of the names or picks alone.
Atlanta Falcons Return
Atlanta received veteran tackle Steve Smith, but his NFL career had effectively ended and he generated no regular-season value for the Falcons after the exchange. The acquisition therefore provided no meaningful return on the player Atlanta sent away. That result is the basis for the D grade assigned to Atlanta Falcons.
Philadelphia Eagles Return
Philadelphia received Art Malone, who became the Eagles' starting fullback in 1975 and contributed as both a runner and receiver. That immediate offensive role gave Philadelphia concrete value from a deal in which Atlanta's return never materialized on the field. That result is the basis for the B grade assigned to Philadelphia Eagles.
Value in Hindsight
Malone's starting role makes the verdict clear. Philadelphia received a player who contributed immediately, while Atlanta received no regular-season production from Smith. The transaction was not large enough to warrant an elite grade, but the difference in realized football value is substantial enough for a comfortable Eagles win. The comparison stays focused on value produced for the acquiring clubs and does not inflate unrelated later transactions or production elsewhere.
Final Verdict
The final judgment is Philadelphia Eagles Win. Atlanta Falcons receives D, while Philadelphia Eagles receives B. The grades are scaled to the size of the deal and the amount of direct NFL value each side obtained, so a clear edge in a minor transaction does not automatically become an elite grade.