Arizona Cardinals received 1969 3rd round pick (73rd overall,…
Arizona Cardinals received 1969 3rd round pick (73rd overall, Terry Brown) in the 1968-09-04 exchange with Detroit Lions. The Cardinals received the 1969 third-round pick used on Terry Brown, who supplied defensive and return-game value over two seasons. That return was substantial enough to balance Detroit's immediate gain. The direct return and the football value it produced drive the hindsight judgment. Against the assets Arizona Cardinals surrendered, the result supports Even Trade and a B- grade for Arizona Cardinals.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- pick 1969 3rd round pick (73rd overall, Terry Brown )
Detroit Lions Received
- player Bill Gambrell
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1968-09-04, Arizona Cardinals received 1969 3rd round pick (73rd overall, Terry Brown), while Detroit Lions received Bill Gambrell. The comparison is limited to the consideration controlled directly after the transaction. Later trades involving an acquired pick or player are separate moves, so they are used only to explain provenance when necessary and are not treated as extra compensation here.
Arizona Cardinals Return
The Cardinals received the 1969 third-round pick used on Terry Brown, who supplied defensive and return-game value over two seasons. That return was substantial enough to balance Detroit's immediate gain. The key question is how much useful football value the incoming side actually created through starts, playing time, production, roster longevity, or retained draft capital. That practical return is weighed against what Arizona Cardinals gave up, with the scale of this transaction kept in proportion.
Detroit Lions Return
Bill Gambrell produced immediately for Detroit, including 492 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 1968. That short-term offensive impact gave the Lions meaningful value from the player they acquired. The same standard applies to Detroit Lions. A larger number of pieces does not automatically mean a better trade; the quality and durability of the return matter more than raw asset count. That keeps the evaluation centered on realized value rather than on the appearance of the package at the moment of the deal.
Value in Hindsight
St. Louis sent Bill Gambrell to Detroit for the 1969 third-round pick that became No.73 Terry Brown. Transaction records and the Cardinals draft record agree on the pick chain. Gambrell immediately produced 492 receiving yards and seven touchdowns for Detroit in 1968; Brown gave St. Louis two seasons of defensive and return value. The direct team return remains balanced. The direct exchange is sufficiently documented to make a firm hindsight judgment. The grades reflect the difference between what each side received and what those assets ultimately became for the clubs, while avoiding credit for unrelated transactions that occurred later.
Final Verdict
Arizona Cardinals receives a B- and Detroit Lions receives a B-. The verdict is Even Trade. This result reflects the direct package, the value each team actually realized, and the modest or substantial separation created by those outcomes.