TradeVerdicts records 7 trades between
Detroit Lions and New York Giants across 1950–2018. Historical
franchise identities are normalized to the current franchises here,
while each underlying trade keeps its own sourced date, assets,
grades, and verdict.
This page includes every public TradeVerdicts record in which both
current franchises participate. Multi-team trades remain in the
chronology when both clubs are part of the transaction.
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Complete Matchup Chronology
7 Recorded Trades
Oldest to newest
Trade 1
July 22, 1950
Even Trade
Detroit LionsC+
New York GiantsC+
Detroit Lions received
Ollie Cline
New York Giants received
Kelley Mote
New York traded fullback Ollie Cline to Detroit on July 22, 1950 for end Kelley Mote. Mote gave the Giants three seasons of regular-season service, appearing in 33 games and catching 19 passes for 304 yards and five touchdowns. The direct player-for-player exchange is well documented, so the legacy undisclosed-consideration placeholders are removed.
Detroit Lions received 1959 fourth round pick (#46-Bob Grottkau), while New York Giants received Carl Karilivacz. Detroit received the 1959 fourth-round choice used at No. 46 on Bob Grottkau, while New York acquired Carl Karilivacz. Karilivacz played all 12 games for the Giants with three interceptions and a defensive touchdown, while Grottkau gave Detroit a shorter contribution. Detroit Lions earns a C+ grade, and the overall verdict is New York Giants Win.
New York acquired defensive lineman Max Messner from Detroit in August 1964. The return is traceable to Detroit receiving the 1965 fifth-round selection at No. 57, used on Tommy Vaughn. Messner provided the Giants with veteran depth, while the Lions converted the deal into a draft choice, leaving the exchange close enough to grade as essentially even.
New York sent linebacker Bill Swain and running back Bill Triplett to Detroit for safety Bruce Maher plus two draft choices, one in 1969 and another in 1970. Maher immediately became a Giants starter and intercepted five passes in 1969. Historical draft histories associate the choices with Vernon Vanoy and Wes Grant, giving New York the stronger combined return.
Detroit acquired defensive tackle Dave Gallagher and fullback Marsh White from New York in an August 1978 transaction for two future draft choices. Gallagher appeared in 11 Lions games across 1978-79 with seven starts, while White never appeared in a Detroit regular-season game. The player package therefore produced one short-term defensive contributor but little lasting roster value for the Lions.
Detroit sent the 78th and 114th picks to the Giants to move up to No. 61 for defensive tackle Shaun Rogers. Rogers became a three-time Pro Bowler, played 163 career games and recorded 37.5 sacks. New York selected cornerback Will Peterson and defensive end Cedric Scott. Peterson developed into a useful long-term defensive back, but Rogers’ peak impact and interior dominance gave Detroit the stronger return.
2019 5th round pick (142nd overall subsequently traded, Ben Burr-Kirven)
Detroit paid a 2019 fifth-round pick for Damon Harrison during the 2018 season and immediately added one of football's premier interior run defenders. Harrison stepped into the starting lineup and helped a defense that badly needed strength in the middle. The Giants later used the incoming pick as part of their move for Deandre Baker, but Detroit received the clearer direct football payoff.
