Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams completed this trade…
Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams completed this trade on 1971-01-28. Williams lasted only one Rams season, but he supplied meaningful rushing, receiving and return production. Green Bay's acquired selections did not produce comparable Packers value, with Virgil Robinson's NFL service coming elsewhere. The post-trade results provide the clearest measure of what each club gained from the exchange. The historical return supports a Los Angeles Rams Win verdict, with Green Bay Packers graded C and Los Angeles Rams graded B.
Green Bay Packers Received
- pick 1971 second round pick (#46-Virgil Robinson)
- pick 1972 sixth round pick (#147-Bob Hudson (c))
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick Travis Williams (b. 1946-01-14)
- pick 1971 fourth round pick (#90-Steve Worster)
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Green Bay sent Travis Williams and its 1971 fourth-round choice to Los Angeles for a 1971 second-rounder and a 1972 sixth-rounder. The structure is confirmed by Packers history and draft-trade records. The original transaction matters because later pick movement can blur what each club actually received. This version keeps the identified assets attached to the correct side.
What Green Bay Packers Received
Green Bay Packers came away with 1971 second round pick (#46-Virgil Robinson), 1972 sixth round pick (#147-Bob Hudson (c)). Williams lasted only one Rams season, but he supplied meaningful rushing, receiving and return production. Green Bay's acquired selections did not produce comparable Packers value, with Virgil Robinson's NFL service coming elsewhere. The grade reflects both the quality of that return and how directly it benefited the franchise.
What Los Angeles Rams Received
Los Angeles Rams received Travis Williams (b. 1946-01-14), 1971 fourth round pick (#90-Steve Worster). The comparison is not based only on the apparent value of the package on trade day. It weighs what those assets became, how long the player contribution lasted, whether a draft choice produced usable service, and whether either side quickly moved on without meaningful return.
How the Value Aged
Williams lasted only one Rams season, but he supplied meaningful rushing, receiving and return production. Green Bay's acquired selections did not produce comparable Packers value, with Virgil Robinson's NFL service coming elsewhere. That is the key separator in the hindsight grade. The transaction can still have made sense for both clubs at the time, especially when veterans, roster needs and future choices were valued differently than they are today. The verdict instead measures the football value each franchise ultimately captured from the assets received in this specific exchange.
Final Verdict
The best hindsight result is Los Angeles Rams Win. Green Bay Packers earns a C and Los Angeles Rams earns a B. Keeps the documented four-asset package but flips the realized-value edge to Los Angeles. The grade spread stays proportional to the actual impact: a clear but modest advantage remains modest, while a long-term starter or star compared with little return creates a wider separation.