Detroit Lions–Green Bay Packers Trade History

Detroit acquired Merv Pregulman from Green Bay in June 1947, while the Packers received Damon Tassos and Detroit’s 1948 fifth-round pick, No. 27 Don Richards. Older descriptions of the draft compensation can sound like a “first choice,” but the verified selection was a fifth-rounder. Pregulman then gave Detroit multiple seasons of meaningful line play, creating a modest Lions advantage.

Detroit Lions received Bob Rennebohm and Howard Brown / Howie Brown in the 1948-07-25 exchange with Green Bay Packers. Howard Brown became a Detroit starter and gave the Lions meaningful immediate value from the four-player exchange. The realized value remains close enough to support an even result.

Detroit Lions received cash. Detroit received cash for Clarence Self. The payment was legitimate consideration, but the amount and any downstream roster use are not established in the surviving record. Detroit therefore gets credit for monetizing the player, but not for a specific football outcome that cannot be traced.

Detroit acquired Jug Girard from Green Bay in July 1952 for Ed Berrang, Steve Dowden and a player to be named later. Girard immediately helped the eventual NFL champions, producing 538 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns while filling in for an injured Doak Walker. Green Bay received real value from Dowden, who started at tackle, but Detroit landed the most impactful player. The Lions win A- to B-.

Detroit received the 1954 sixth-round choice at No. 63 and selected Pence Dacus. Dacus never produced an NFL playing return for the Lions, leaving Detroit without meaningful realized value from the pick. That outcome supports a D grade within the Green Bay Packers Win verdict. The grade reflects realized football value rather than the size of the original package.

Green Bay’s July 26, 1957 blockbuster sent quarterback Tobin Rote and defensive back Val Joe Walker to Detroit for Norm Masters, Ollie Spencer, Jim Salsbury, and Don McIlhenny. Rote became decisive when Bobby Layne was injured, leading Detroit through a dramatic Western playoff comeback and a 59-14 NFL championship victory. The Packers received several useful players, especially Masters, but Detroit captured the title-changing star.

Detroit acquired tackle Ollie Spencer from Green Bay in July 1959. Ken Russell was initially part of the return, but after Russell left Packers camp the obligation was replaced by Detroit's 1960 fifth-round pick, No. 51, used on Dale Hackbart. The settled exchange therefore became Spencer for No. 51, and Green Bay's eventual draft return produced the stronger value.

Detroit acquired rookie defensive back Mike Bass from Green Bay for cash, but the Lions received only two regular-season appearances and no starts in 1967. Bass later became a long-term Washington starter, yet that success cannot be credited to Detroit. Green Bay's cash amount is not established, leaving no traceable football return on that side either. The deal grades as an even D.

On 1968-08-16, Detroit Lions received Brendan McCarthy, while Green Bay Packers received undisclosed future draft pick (selection not identified). The final verdict is Detroit Lions Win, with Detroit Lions 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.

Detroit Lions received conditional draft choice (selection not identified) from Green Bay Packers, while Green Bay Packers received Darryl White/Daryl White in the 1975-08-08 deal. In hindsight, Detroit Lions's return did not separate far enough from Green Bay Packers to justify a higher grade. The final grades are C for Detroit Lions and C for Green Bay Packers, 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.

Detroit Lions received 1999 7th round pick (232nd overall subsequently traded, Jermaine Haley) in the 1998-04-23 exchange with Green Bay Packers. The transaction occurred April 23, 1998, when Detroit sent Glyn Milburn to Green Bay for a future 1999 seventh-round choice. The supported outcome gives Detroit Lions a C grade. The overall verdict is Green Bay Packers Win, based on the direct football and draft value actually realized after the trade.

Detroit moved up three spots for Brian Branch, who became one of the league's most productive young defensive backs. Green Bay moved down, added pick No. 159 for Dontayvion Wicks, then flipped No. 48 to Tampa Bay for the choices used on Jayden Reed and Karl Brooks. Branch is the best single player, but Green Bay created three productive contributors. Both sides earned an excellent return.