Detroit Lions–Washington Commanders Trade History

Detroit sent Hall of Fame back Bill Dudley to Washington for defensive back Dan Sandifer in January 1950. Dudley immediately became a major two-way contributor for Washington, starting every game in both 1950 and 1951 while rushing, receiving, returning kicks and intercepting passes. Sandifer had value as a defensive back, but Detroit surrendered the far more accomplished player and Washington gained the decisive advantage.

Detroit acquired guard Joe Soboleski from Washington for George Hekkers in July 1950. Soboleski appeared in 12 games with three starts for the Lions that season, giving Detroit immediate roster and lineup value. Washington released Hekkers and received no regular-season playing contribution from him, so Detroit produced the only measurable on-field return from the exchange.

Detroit's two draft choices can be traced to Bill Stits at No. 44 in 1954 and Gordon Malloy at No. 39 in 1955. Stits gave the Lions 36 games, 25 starts and 10 interceptions over three seasons; Malloy never played an NFL game. Washington got an immediate star season from Don Doll: 12 starts, 10 interceptions and a Pro Bowl. Both sides earn B grades and an even verdict.

Detroit received Jim Ricca and Walt Yowarsky, but neither became a meaningful Lions return. Ricca appeared in only six Detroit games with one start in 1955, while Yowarsky played only two games for the club before his release. The package gave Detroit little durable lineup value, especially compared with the immediate starting impact Washington received from LaVern Torgeson.

Detroit acquired Harry Gilmer from Washington in June 1955, but the complete return was Bert Zagers and Bob Trout, not Zagers alone. Gilmer provided Detroit with two seasons of veteran quarterback depth, while Zagers became a multi-year Washington contributor. Restoring Trout to the package strengthens an already favorable Washington result and supports a clear Redskins/Commanders win.

Detroit traded star guard Dick Stanfel to Washington for defensive back Dick Alban in April 1956. Stanfel remained an elite lineman, earning first-team All-Pro honors in all three Washington seasons and later reaching the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Alban never played for Detroit, but the Lions quickly flipped him to Pittsburgh for Dick Modzelewski, preserving some indirect value from the original return.

Detroit Lions received Johnny Olszewski in the deal with Washington Commanders. Olszewski appeared in all 14 Detroit games in 1961, but his offensive production was modest at 109 rushing yards and 14 receiving yards. The Lions received availability and veteran depth rather than a major offensive return. That outcome supports a C+ for Detroit Lions. The Washington Commanders Win verdict weighs documented games, starts, production and connected draft value.

Detroit Lions received quarterback George Izo and guard Ted Karras; Izo went 2-1 in three 1965 starts, while Karras started 10 of 12 games for Detroit that season. The team earns a C+, compared with C for Washington Commanders, and the hindsight verdict is Detroit Lions Win. That judgment reflects the concrete team-specific production, role and tenure created by the assets in this deal.

On 1966-10-02, Detroit Lions received 1967 sixth-round draft pick (#144-John McCambridge), while Washington Commanders received Joe Don Looney. The hindsight verdict is Washington Redskins Win, with Detroit Lions graded C+ and Washington Commanders graded B-. The evaluation credits only the consideration that can be traced confidently and keeps uncertain pick details out of the final judgment.

Detroit Lions received Ken Barefoot from Washington Commanders. Barefoot never appeared in a Lions regular-season game, so Detroit received no direct game contribution from the player it acquired. The D grade reflects the direct value Detroit Lions realized from the transaction, with the final Washington Commanders Win call based on actual service and clearly traceable draft outcomes rather than projected value.

Detroit Lions received 1970 sixth round pick (#149-Tony Terry), while Washington Commanders received Dave Kopay. Washington acquired veteran running back Dave Kopay, while Detroit received the 1970 sixth-round selection that became Tony Terry. Kopay supplied short-term backfield service in Washington, whereas the draft return did not produce enough NFL value to swing the deal toward Detroit. That outcome supports a C+ grade for Detroit Lions, a B- for Washington Commanders, and a Washington Commanders Win verdict.

Detroit Lions received John Hilton. John Hilton gave Detroit two seasons of service at tight end, providing the Lions with identifiable regular-season value from the transaction. That outcome supports a B- grade because the return is measured by the direct football value Detroit Lions actually received after the deal, compared with the asset sent the other way.

Detroit Lions received Sam Wyche in the exchange with Washington. The return is graded C+ after weighing the transaction cost and the practical value visible in hindsight. The grade remains tied to documented value for the acquiring club, without assigning credit for unresolved or hypothetical downstream consideration.

On 1981-08-17, Detroit Lions received 1982 conditional twelfth-round pick (exercise not documented), while Washington Commanders received Lee Spivey. The final verdict is Even Trade, with Detroit Lions graded C and Washington Commanders 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.

Washington acquired defensive tackle Eric Williams from Detroit for running back James Wilder and a 1991 fourth-round pick, No. 108 Tony Hill. Williams immediately became an important interior defender and started throughout Washington's 1991 championship season, posting a career-high 64 tackles and 17 quarterback hurries. Detroit received a veteran back and a mid-round choice, but neither matched Williams' impact on an elite Super Bowl defense.

Detroit received the 144th pick in the 2003 draft and selected James Davis. Detroit received the 144th pick in the 2003 draft and used it on James Davis. Davis went on to play forty games and make thirty starts for the Lions, turning a fifth-round return into a substantial amount of lineup value. For a modest veteran trade, that is a notably successful draft conversion. In hindsight, that result supports a B+ grade for Detroit Lions in a deal ultimately judged as Detroit Lions Win.

Detroit acquired cornerback Kevin Barnes from Washington for an undisclosed conditional 2013 draft pick. Barnes appeared in only two games for the Lions, logged 14 defensive snaps and was released in September. The conditional pick was not exercised, so Washington ultimately received no draft asset from the deal. With almost no realized football value on either side, the C/C Even Trade result fits the realized outcome.