Cleveland Browns–Green Bay Packers Trade History

Cleveland Browns received Gordy Soltau. Cleveland received Gordy Soltau but immediately moved him to San Francisco rather than realizing his later 49ers receiving and kicking career. The Browns did create traceable downstream value from moving Soltau, including the 1951 fourth-round choice used on Bob Oristaglio, so their return was not zero, but Soltau's San Francisco production cannot be counted as Cleveland value.

Cleveland received Green Bay's 1951 eighth-round obligation, identified in the current package as No. 88 Art Spinney, in the Tom O'Malley exchange. Historical accounts disagree about the precise mapping of the O'Malley draft obligation, and the available evidence does not establish a clearly superior Browns return from this specific transaction. A conservative C grade reflects that uncertainty without changing the package.

Cleveland Browns received 1951 fourth round pick (#41-Bob Smith). Cleveland received Green Bay's 1951 fourth-round choice and used No. 41 on Bob Smith. Smith went on to play 15 NFL games, giving the pick a modest realized player outcome even though he did not become a long-term cornerstone. The Browns therefore converted Boedecker into identifiable draft value and some professional service.

Cleveland Browns received Dan Orlich. Cleveland received Dan Orlich on a look-see basis, but the Browns did not develop a durable return from him in this transaction. Orlich was reacquired by Green Bay roughly a month later as part of the separate Bob Gain package, so later Packers activity must not be credited to Cleveland here.

Cleveland Browns received rights to Bob Gain and 1952 fourth round pick (#39-Elmer Costa). Cleveland received the rights to Bob Gain plus the 1952 fourth-round No. 39 choice used on Elmer Costa. Gain became the centerpiece, playing 126 Browns games with 122 starts and earning multiple Pro Bowl selections. The pick added a second identifiable asset, making Cleveland's realized return both deep and long-lived.

Cleveland Browns received Walt Michaels. Walt Michaels became a five-time Pro Bowler and an important part of Cleveland's championship-era teams. His sustained high-level play made the Browns' single-player return exceptionally valuable. Compared with Green Bay Packers' return, the result supports a A grade and fits the Cleveland Browns Win verdict.

Cleveland Browns received Ace Loomis. Cleveland received Ace Loomis, but he did not play a regular-season game for the Browns in 1952 and was later claimed back by Green Bay. His established Packers production before and after the transaction cannot be credited to Cleveland, leaving the Browns with essentially no direct regular-season return.

Cleveland Browns received 1955 fourth round pick (#41-Paul Reynolds) in the exchange with Green Bay Packers. Cleveland received the No. 41 selection and used it on Paul Reynolds, who did not create a professional return comparable to the player sent to Green Bay. Against Green Bay Packers' return of Jerry Helluin, that outcome supports a D+ grade. The transaction is judged as Green Bay Packers Win, with the mark based on the football value that actually followed from the deal.

Green Bay traded the rights to Babe Parilli and Bob Fleck, both entering military service, to Cleveland for Bobby Garrett, John Bauer, Jack Miller and Chester Giarola. The six-player deal looked enormous on paper, but much of the Packers' return failed to stick: Garrett played nine games in 1954, while Bauer and Miller did not make the club and Giarola did not report. Cleveland's return was also delayed, leaving a surprisingly balanced outcome.

Cleveland Browns received rights to Art Hunter (b. 1933-04-24) in the 1955-07-29 exchange involving Green Bay Packers. Hunter became a multi-year Browns starter and reached the Pro Bowl in 1959, turning the acquired rights into substantial long-term line play for Cleveland. That realized return supports a B+ grade for Cleveland Browns. The overall verdict is Cleveland Browns Win, with the grade based on direct value created from this transaction.

Cleveland sent Don King and Gene Donaldson to Green Bay in April 1956 for the Packers' 1957 fifth-round choice, which became Henry Jordan at No. 52. Green Bay's own historical transaction record supports that fifth-round price. King played only briefly for the Packers and Donaldson was waived before the season, while Jordan gave Cleveland two seasons before becoming a valuable trade asset himself.

On 1956-07-01, Cleveland Browns received 1957 sixth round pick (#63-Joe Amstutz), while Green Bay Packers received George Cummins. The final verdict is Even Trade, with Cleveland Browns graded C and Green Bay Packers graded C. The hindsight view follows the documented consideration and later traceable value without treating every named pick outcome as if it had been directly exchanged on trade day. Both sides have identifiable consideration, allowing the hindsight grade to focus on what those assets actually became.

Cleveland received Green Bay's 1957 sixth-round choice for John Sandusky and Chet Lyssy. Lyssy was returned to Cleveland before the season, while later histories do not securely identify which specific 1957 selection came from the deal. Cleveland therefore gained a modest draft asset and recovered one of the players it had moved, while Green Bay received only a short-lived veteran return. The documented value on both sides is close enough to remain even.

Cleveland received Bobby Garrett and Roger Zatkoff from Green Bay in a large April 1957 player swap. Both were legitimate NFL players, and Zatkoff in particular gave the Browns useful defensive value. Cleveland surrendered six players, however, including Babe Parilli and several contributors whose combined careers gave Green Bay the broader return. The Browns received value, but the aggregate hindsight edge belongs to the Packers.

Cleveland Browns received 1959 fourth round pick (#37-Gary Prahst). Cleveland used the acquired fourth-round selection on Gary Prahst, who did not establish an NFL regular-season career for the Browns. That result supports a D grade for Cleveland Browns. The final verdict is Green Bay Packers Win, based on the documented service, durability, and value each club actually obtained from this exchange.

Cleveland Browns received Dick Deschaine from Green Bay Packers in the 1958-09-24 exchange. Deschaine punted 50 times for a 41.3-yard average in all 12 Cleveland games in 1958, while Bob Laraba never played a regular-season game for Green Bay. Measured by what Cleveland Browns actually realized after the deal, the return supports a B grade and represents the stronger realized return. The overall judgment is Cleveland Browns Win.

Cleveland Browns received Billy Howton from Green Bay Packers. Cleveland received Billy Howton, an established receiver who continued to provide productive NFL service after the trade. The Browns therefore realized a meaningful direct player return from the exchange. That outcome supports a C+ grade for Cleveland Browns. The final verdict is Green Bay Packers Win, based on the football value the club actually realized from the assets it controlled after the exchange.

Cleveland Browns received 1960 fifth round pick (#53-Bob Jarus). Cleveland used the acquired fifth-round selection on Bob Jarus, who did not establish a comparable NFL regular-season career for the Browns. That result supports a D grade for Cleveland Browns. The final verdict is Green Bay Packers Win, based on the documented service, durability, and value each club actually obtained from this exchange.

Cleveland sent defensive tackle Henry Jordan to Green Bay for the 1960 fourth-round pick that became Johnny Brewer. Jordan became a cornerstone of Vince Lombardi's defense, earned five straight All-Pro selections and four Pro Bowls, and played in the Packers' championship dynasty. Brewer did not approach that level of impact, making Green Bay the decisive long-term winner.

Green Bay acquired defensive end Willie Davis from Cleveland on July 12, 1960 in a straight player-for-player swap for receiver A.D. Williams. Davis became a Hall of Famer, a five-time NFL champion with the Lombardi Packers, and the longtime captain of a dynasty defense. Williams played only two more NFL seasons and caught 14 passes after the trade, creating an enormous value gap.

Cleveland Browns received 1961 eighth round pick (#110-Fred Cox) from Green Bay Packers in the 1960-08-22 exchange. Bob Jarus did not become a meaningful Packers contributor, and Cleveland did not realize Fred Cox's later Minnesota kicking value because that career came after he left the Browns. Measured by what Cleveland Browns actually realized after the deal, the return supports a C- grade and represents roughly even direct value. The overall judgment is Even Trade.

Cleveland Browns received 1962 third round pick (#42-John Furman) in the exchange with Green Bay Packers. Cleveland used the third-round choice on John Furman, but the pick did not deliver a Browns return comparable to the veteran sent away. Against Green Bay Packers' return of John Roach, that outcome supports a C grade. The transaction is judged as Green Bay Packers Win, with the mark based on the football value that actually followed from the deal.

Cleveland received Ernie Green, who became a long-term Browns back and a major offensive contributor. His multi-season role made him by far the most productive piece to emerge from the exchange and turned a late-round cost into meaningful value. That outcome supports a A grade within the Cleveland Browns Win verdict. The grade reflects realized football value rather than the size of the original package.

On 1966-08-15, Cleveland Browns received Ralph Wenzel (Richard), while Green Bay Packers received undisclosed draft choice. The hindsight verdict is Green Bay Packers Win, with Cleveland Browns graded D and Green Bay Packers graded C+. The evaluation follows the documented consideration and traceable football value, while leaving unresolved downstream pick identities out of the judgment.

On 1980-09-01, Cleveland Browns received 1982 conditional fourth round pick (undisclosed), while Green Bay Packers received Mark Miller (b). The final verdict is Cleveland Browns Win, with Cleveland Browns graded B and Green Bay Packers graded C+. The hindsight view follows the documented consideration and later traceable value without treating every named pick outcome as if it had been directly exchanged on trade day. Any conditional, undisclosed, or unidentified component is credited only to the extent that the surviving evidence establishes it.

Cleveland Browns received John Jefferson. Cleveland acquired veteran receiver John Jefferson, but his Browns tenure lasted only seven games and produced three receptions for 30 yards. The return was real but far smaller than Jefferson's pre-trade reputation might imply. Neither club created much value, but Jefferson's limited Cleveland contribution still edges Green Bay's return, supporting only a modest Browns win. That outcome supports a C+ grade for Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland moved Herman Fontenot, picks 74 and 127, and its 1990 first-round selection to Green Bay for picks 31 and 114 in the 1989 draft. The Browns used those choices on Lawyer Tillman and Kyle Kramer. Green Bay's future first became Tony Bennett, while the Packers also received Anthony Dilweg and Vince Workman. The premium future first and deeper package produced a decisive Packers advantage.

Cleveland acquired veteran offensive lineman Darryl Haley from Green Bay in August 1989 for a conditional draft choice. Available transaction histories indicate the condition probably was not triggered, and Haley did not develop into a regular-season contributor for the Browns. Green Bay moved a player who was at the end of his NFL run, while Cleveland paid little or nothing in realized draft capital. The exchange grades evenly at C/C.

Cleveland acquired former Pro Bowl running back Brent Fullwood from Green Bay in October 1990 for a 1991 seventh-round pick that became No. 169 Frank Blevins. Fullwood appeared in only one game for the Browns and recorded no rushing attempt, while Green Bay at least recovered a future selection. The pick produced little, but the Packers still got the better result.

Cleveland moved up six spots in the third round of the 1995 draft for quarterback Eric Zeier, sending Green Bay picks 90 and 160. Zeier made 12 NFL starts and went 4-8. The Packers used No. 90 on Antonio Freeman, who became Brett Favre’s top receiver, caught 61 career touchdowns and starred on a Super Bowl champion. Green Bay also received the extra fifth-round pick, making the trade a major Packers win.

Cleveland received one regular-season appearance from Therrian Fontenot after the late-preseason swap. The contribution was minimal, but it still exceeded the game-day value Green Bay received from Carlton Brewster. The grade remains tied to documented value for the acquiring club, without assigning credit for unresolved or hypothetical downstream consideration.

Cleveland Browns acquired defensive lineman Corey Williams from Green Bay for the No. 56 pick in the 2008 draft. Williams played all 32 regular-season games across two Browns seasons and started 18, giving Cleveland steady direct value from the deal. Green Bay used the pick on Brian Brohm, who never became a meaningful Packers quarterback, so Cleveland earns a B- and the win.

Cleveland moved up for David Njoku and landed the best player in the transaction. Njoku developed into a long-term Browns starter, a Pro Bowl tight end, and one of the club's most dependable offensive pieces. His sustained receiving production, red-zone value, and years of starting service gave Cleveland exactly the kind of payoff teams seek when sacrificing multiple selections to climb into the first round.

Cleveland Browns received Damarious Randall plus the lower fourth- and fifth-round selections, while sending DeShone Kizer and the higher corresponding picks to Green Bay. Cleveland also turned No. 150 into Genard Avery, giving the Browns a stronger mix of immediate secondary help and draft value. That return supports a B grade. The final verdict is Cleveland Browns Win.

Cleveland Browns received Justin McCray and 2020 7th round pick (244th overall subsequently traded, Nate Stanley) from Green Bay Packers, sending 2020 7th round pick (236th overall, Vernon Scott) the other way. Cleveland received useful 2019 starts, while Green Bay drafted Vernon Scott. That outcome supports a B- grade for Cleveland Browns, and the overall verdict is Cleveland Browns Win.