Cleveland Browns–Indianapolis Colts Trade History

Cleveland signed rookie quarterback Y.A. Tittle before the 1948 AAFC season, but league commissioner Jonas Ingram shifted him to Baltimore as part of a talent-balancing program. Transaction histories date Tittle's move to April 14, 1948. This was not a normal negotiated trade for Cleveland compensation, and Charley O'Rourke came to Baltimore from the Los Angeles Dons rather than from Cleveland.

Cleveland and the new Baltimore Colts completed a 15-player trade in March 1953, one of the largest swaps in NFL history. Baltimore received 10 players, including Don Shula, Bert Rechichar and Carl Taseff. Cleveland's five-man return included future Hall of Fame tackle Mike McCormack, who became a cornerstone of championship Browns teams and gives Cleveland the decisive edge.

Baltimore acquired Tom Cosgrove from Cleveland in July 1953 for a 1954 sixth-round draft choice. The Browns used that No. 64 selection on guard Jim Ray Smith, who became a five-time Pro Bowler and long-term Cleveland starter. Cosgrove gave the Colts roster service, but the late-round pick developed into an elite lineman, making Cleveland the overwhelming winner.

Baltimore Colts received punter David Lee from Cleveland Browns for the 1968 fifth round pick that became No. 134 Jackie Jackson. Lee became Baltimore’s punter for 13 seasons, played 184 games, accumulated 838 punts for 34,019 yards and contributed to championship teams. Jackson never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. That enormous realized-value gap makes this an Indianapolis Colts Win.

Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Colts exchanged 1972 ninth round pick (#230-Billy LeFear) for Tom Beutler. LeFear was a strong result for a ninth-round choice. The Browns did not draft a star, but late-round trades should be judged against realistic opportunity cost. In hindsight, Cleveland Browns produced the stronger realized return, with the grade based on actual post-trade service and traceable downstream value rather than the nominal asset label alone.

Cleveland Browns received Lynn Larson/Lynn Larsen from Indianapolis Colts, while Indianapolis Colts received 1973 sixth round pick (selection not identified) in the 1972-08-31 deal. In hindsight, Cleveland Browns's return did not separate far enough from Indianapolis Colts to justify a higher grade. The final grades are C for Cleveland Browns and C for Indianapolis Colts, producing a verdict of Even Trade. The rating reflects the documented package, the certainty of the consideration, and the football value that can actually be assigned in hindsight.

Baltimore acquired center Fred Hoaglin from Cleveland on January 25, 1973, for Kansas City’s third-round pick, No. 67 overall, which the Browns used on defensive end Bob Crum. Hoaglin appeared in all 14 games for the Colts that season, while Crum never played a regular-season game for Cleveland. The deal produced modest value, but Baltimore realized more of it.

Baltimore acquired kicker George Hunt from Cleveland on January 30, 1973 for the fourth-round pick used on Andy Dorris. Hunt handled the Colts' kicking job for all 14 games in 1973. Cleveland drafted Dorris but traded him before the regular season, later receiving a 1974 seventh-round pick. Baltimore gained the stronger immediate football return.

Cleveland acquired wide receiver Victor Oatis from Indianapolis on May 16, 1985 for a conditional 1986 twelfth-round pick. The condition was not met, so the draft choice did not convey. Oatis had recorded regular-season production for the Colts earlier in his career but did not produce a documented Browns regular-season contribution, leaving Cleveland with a no-cost look rather than meaningful realized value.

Cleveland acquired quarterback Mike Pagel for a 1987 ninth-round pick that Indianapolis used on linebacker Bob Ontko. Pagel spent five seasons with the Browns, appearing in 42 games and making seven starts, including a 4-2 record as a starter in 1985. Ontko's Colts career lasted only three games. That durable backup value gives Cleveland the better return without making the deal a franchise-changing win.

Indianapolis acquired linebacker Anthony Griggs from Cleveland on August 30, 1988 for a conditional 1989 twelfth-round pick. The condition was not exercised, so Cleveland received no drafted player from the deal. Griggs had been a productive starter earlier in his career, but his official NFL record ends with five Browns games in 1988 and shows no regular-season Colts appearance, leaving little realized value either way.

Cleveland received 2004 Nos. 59 Sean Jones and 161 Amon Gordon from Indianapolis for Nos. 68 Ben Hartsock, 141 Jake Scott and 173 Von Hutchins. Jones became a productive Browns safety, but Scott developed into a long-term Colts starter and key offensive lineman on a championship team. Indianapolis produced the stronger overall return.

Cleveland Browns received 2014 4th round pick (127th overall, Pierre Desir). Cleveland received the future fourth-round choice that became Pierre Desir at No. 127. Desir appeared in 19 games for the Browns before continuing a longer NFL career elsewhere. Both returns were modest, but Cleveland received somewhat more usable original-team value from Desir, supporting a narrow Browns win. That outcome supports a B- grade for Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland traded Trent Richardson to Indianapolis only one season after drafting him third overall and recovered a 2014 first-round pick. Richardson’s efficiency collapsed with the Colts, validating Cleveland’s decision to sell before the rest of the league fully adjusted its valuation. The Browns later moved the pick through additional draft transactions, but the central result remains striking: they received premium capital for a running back whose NFL value disappeared quickly.

Cleveland received 2018 3rd round pick (67th overall, Chad Thomas), 2018 6th round pick (178th overall subsequently traded, Christian Sam), while Indianapolis received 2018 2nd round pick (64th overall, Tyquan Lewis). The hindsight grades are C- for Cleveland and B for Indianapolis. The verdict is grounded in the actual starts, production, tenure and downstream draft results produced by those assets.

Indianapolis sent picks 44 and 160 to Cleveland to move up three spots for Jonathan Taylor. Taylor has become one of the defining running backs of his era, totaling 7,598 rushing yards and 69 rushing touchdowns through 2025, with a unanimous first-team All-Pro season and NFL rushing title in 2021. Cleveland landed long-term starting safety Grant Delpit and reserve lineman Nick Harris, giving the Browns a strong return but not enough to match Taylor.