Arizona Cardinals–Indianapolis Colts Trade History

Baltimore acquired defensive end Don Joyce from the Chicago Cardinals for guard Bill Lange and an unidentified draft choice in September 1954. Joyce became a seven-season Colt, played 81 regular-season games, and was part of Baltimore's 1958 and 1959 championship teams. Lange remained useful in Chicago, but the Colts received the far more durable and consequential player.

Chicago acquired defensive back Tom Keane from Baltimore for Dick Young in a 1955 exchange whose exact day is listed as approximate by transaction histories. Keane immediately became a productive Cardinals starter and intercepted six passes in 1955. Young gave Baltimore two seasons of reserve backfield service before moving on, leaving Chicago with the clearer on-field return.

Baltimore sent tackle Tom Finnin to the Cardinals for a 1958 fifth-round pick and used that selection on Ole Miss defensive back Ray Brown. Finnin spent only the 1957 season with Chicago, while Brown started as a rookie, intercepted eight passes, handled punting duties, and became a starter on the Colts’ back-to-back 1958 and 1959 NFL championship teams.

The Cardinals exchanged veteran linebacker Leo Sanford for Dale Meinert in the summer of 1958. Sanford started nine games for Baltimore that season and then left the active roster, while Meinert became a durable ten-year Cardinals fixture, starting 123 NFL games and earning All-NFL recognition in 1964. The long-term value makes this a clear Cardinals victory.

St. Louis acquired linebacker Mike Strofolino from Baltimore for the 1967 eighth-round selection that became No. 202 overall. Strofolino appeared in 23 regular-season games for the Cardinals from 1966 through 1968 and started five in his final St. Louis season. That modest three-year contribution gave the Cardinals tangible roster value from a late-round draft asset.

The Cardinals sent Eddie McGill to Indianapolis on July 23, 1985 for a conditional 1986 twelfth-round pick. The condition was not exercised, leaving St. Louis without a realized draft selection, while McGill did not produce meaningful regular-season value for the Colts. With neither side converting the transaction into a lasting contribution, the practical outcome was essentially neutral.

Indianapolis acquired linebacker Dave Ahrens from St. Louis on August 27, 1985, for a 1986 tenth-round pick. Ahrens appeared in 44 regular-season games for the Colts over three seasons and started 10 games in 1986. St. Louis used the No. 255 selection on receiver Wes Smith, who played only one NFL game. Indianapolis converted a late pick into substantially more usable roster value and wins the exchange.

Indianapolis moved up three spots in the 2024 third round for tackle Matt Goncalves, sending Arizona the selections used on tight end Tip Reiman and receiver Tejhaun Palmer. Goncalves appeared in every game as a rookie and started seven times across both tackle spots. Arizona received two players from one pick, but Indianapolis has realized the stronger early value from the deal's most important selection.