Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis acquired center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger and Buffalo's 2027 seventh-round pick for the Colts' 2027 sixth-round selection. Van Pran-Granger arrived with 31 NFL appearances and two starts at age 24, giving Indianapolis experienced interior depth for a small move down the draft board. The cost is limited, while the Colts gain a young player who can compete for backup or starting work.

Pittsburgh moved from No. 53 to No. 47 in the 2026 second round and selected receiver Germie Bernard, also receiving pick No. 249. Indianapolis received Nos. 53, 135 and 237, using them on CJ Allen, Bryce Boettcher and Seth McGowan. The Steelers paid two later selections to secure their preferred receiver, while the Colts added volume without leaving the second round; that balance supports an Even Trade and C grades.

Indianapolis traded Michael Pittman Jr. and the No. 230 pick to Pittsburgh for No. 214. The Colts used No. 214 on Ohio State edge defender Caden Curry, who made the regular-season roster and appeared in each of Indianapolis' first three games.

Pittsburgh acquired Michael Pittman Jr. and the No. 230 selection for the No. 214 pick, moving back only sixteen draft slots to add a proven starting receiver. Indianapolis gained a modest upgrade in draft position and moved on from a veteran entering a new roster phase. The low acquisition cost gives Pittsburgh the early edge before Pittman has played a regular-season game for the Steelers.

Green Bay acquired veteran linebacker Zaire Franklin from Indianapolis in a straight player-for-player exchange for defensive lineman Colby Wooden. Franklin arrived with 132 games, 82 starts, a 2024 second-team All-Pro selection, and a Pro Bowl appearance, giving the Packers a proven middle-of-the-defense option. Wooden is younger and had become a starter, so the long-term result remains open, but Green Bay received the stronger established résumé at the time of the trade.

Indianapolis acquired All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner from the Jets for wide receiver Adonai Mitchell and first-round picks in 2026 and 2027. Gardner played only three Colts games in 2025 before a calf strain ended his season, while New York used the 2026 choice at No. 16 on tight end Kenyon Sadiq. With the 2027 first still outstanding, the trade remains unfinished.

Indianapolis acquired Mekhi Blackmon from Minnesota for a 2026 sixth-round pick shortly before roster cuts, betting on a corner returning from a torn ACL. Blackmon responded by playing all 17 games, starting 11 and recording 64 tackles, seven passes defensed, two interceptions and a sack. Minnesota moved the sixth-rounder again, leaving the Colts with the clearly stronger direct football return.

Philadelphia moved from No. 155 to No. 164 in the 2024 fifth round and sent Indianapolis an additional sixth-round pick, then selected linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. The Colts used their two choices on Jaylin Simpson and Micah Abraham. Trotter has appeared in every regular-season game through two years and contributed on defense and special teams, giving Philadelphia the clearest realized value.

Carolina moved from No. 52 to No. 46 for Jonathon Brooks, sending Indianapolis two additional fifth-round picks at Nos. 142 and 155. Brooks entered the league recovering from an ACL tear and then tore the same ACL again in his third NFL game, sharply limiting the early return. The Colts collected three selections for six spots of movement, giving Indianapolis the stronger realized value so far.

Indianapolis moved up three spots in the 2024 third round for tackle Matt Goncalves, sending Arizona the selections used on tight end Tip Reiman and receiver Tejhaun Palmer. Goncalves appeared in every game as a rookie and started seven times across both tackle spots. Arizona received two players from one pick, but Indianapolis has realized the stronger early value from the deal's most important selection.

Minnesota moved up from No. 158 to No. 141 in the 2023 draft and selected defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy. Indianapolis received No. 158, used on Daniel Scott, and No. 211, used on Titus Leo. Roy produced regular-season snaps and sacks, while the Colts' two selections yielded limited early playing time, giving Minnesota the edge.

Atlanta moved up six spots for Matthew Bergeron, who became an immediate fixture at left guard and started 49 games over his first three seasons. Indianapolis turned the move down into Julius Brents and Adetomiwa Adebawore; Adebawore developed into a useful rotational defender, but Brents' Colts tenure was limited by injuries. Bergeron's steady starting value gives Atlanta the clearer return.

Las Vegas sent picks 38 and 141 to Indianapolis to move three spots for tight end Michael Mayer. Mayer has started 32 games and produced 83 catches for 788 yards and three touchdowns through three seasons, useful production but below the expectations attached to the move. Indianapolis immediately traded No. 38 again and later moved No. 141, multiplying its draft capital. The Colts’ flexibility and Mayer’s modest output give Indianapolis the better side.

Dallas acquired veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore from Indianapolis for a 2023 fifth-round pick that became running back Evan Hull. Gilmore immediately started all 17 regular-season games for a 12-win Cowboys team, intercepted two passes and strengthened a secondary that needed veteran stability. Indianapolis received little lasting production from Hull, making the one-year Gilmore rental easily worth the modest price.

Buffalo Bills received Nyheim Hines from Indianapolis, giving up Zack Moss and the 2023 fifth-round selection that became Will Mallory. Hines provided immediate return-game value, including two kickoff-return touchdowns in the 2022 playoffs, but his Buffalo tenure was interrupted before 2023. That useful but short contribution supports a C+ for Buffalo rather than a stronger long-term grade.

Indianapolis acquired linebacker Grant Stuard and a 2023 seventh-round pick from Tampa Bay for a 2023 sixth-rounder. The Buccaneers used the sixth on defensive back Josh Hayes, while the Colts' seventh became Jake Witt. Stuard developed into a valuable special-teams player who also handled defensive starts, and Hayes supplied Tampa Bay with special-teams and secondary depth. Both clubs turned late-round value into useful roster pieces.

Indianapolis sent pick No. 179 and a 2023 third-rounder to Denver to move back into the 2022 third round for safety Nick Cross at No. 96. Cross grew from a young special-teams contributor into a productive starting safety, giving the Colts a durable defensive payoff. Denver later used the future third on Drew Sanders, but his early return did not match Cross's established role in Indianapolis.

Minnesota moved up in the 2022 second round and came away with cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. at No. 42 plus the No. 122 pick, which was later moved again. Indianapolis turned the return into Alec Pierce, Bernhard Raimann and Andrew Ogletree. Booth never supplied comparable value, while Pierce and especially Raimann became meaningful Colts contributors, giving Indianapolis the clearer long-term return.

Atlanta traded longtime quarterback Matt Ryan to Indianapolis for pick No. 82 in 2022, ending a 14-year era and beginning a roster reset. The Falcons used the pick on DeAngelo Malone, who became primarily a rotational defender and special-teams contributor. Ryan started 12 games for the Colts, throwing for 3,057 yards, 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions before being released after one season. Atlanta won because Indianapolis received no lasting quarterback solution.

Indianapolis traded Carson Wentz plus picks No. 47 and No. 240 to Washington on March 16, 2022 for picks No. 42 and No. 73 plus a conditional 2023 third-round pick. The Colts later used No. 73 on Jelani Woods and the 2023 pick became No. 79 Josh Downs, while No. 42 was included in a trade-down that helped produce three additional selections. Downs alone had 207 catches for 2,249 yards and 11 touchdowns through Week 2 of 2026, giving Indianapolis the strongest direct long-term return.

Indianapolis and Las Vegas exchanged Yannick Ngakoue and Rock Ya-Sin in March 2022. Both incoming players became one-year starters and then left their new clubs. Ngakoue started 15 games for the Colts and led the team with 9.5 sacks; Ya-Sin started nine of 11 games for the Raiders and defended seven passes. Because each team received useful short-term production without a lasting asset, the trade grades evenly.

Indianapolis acquired offensive lineman Matt Pryor and a 2022 seventh-round pick from Philadelphia for a 2022 sixth-round pick. Pryor immediately supplied useful, inexpensive depth, appearing in all 17 games with five starts in 2021 before earning another Colts contract. Philadelphia recovered a modest draft asset, but Indianapolis received the more substantial on-field return from a small late-round pick downgrade.

Indianapolis traded pick No. 206 for Nos. 218 and 229, selecting quarterback Sam Ehlinger and receiver Mike Strachan. Ehlinger appeared in eight games and made three starts for the Colts, while Strachan played 23 games and caught six passes for 130 yards. The Colts created two roster chances, but neither player became a sustained starter, leaving the return useful mainly as depth.

Philadelphia turned a deteriorated Carson Wentz situation into a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 selection that became a first-rounder after Wentz met the playing-time threshold in Indianapolis. The Eagles escaped the quarterback relationship, gained valuable draft flexibility and avoided needing Wentz to rebound for the transaction to work. Extracting a first-round return after his disastrous 2020 season made the outcome especially favorable.

Indianapolis traded the 182nd pick to New England for selections 212 and 213, using them on Dezmon Patmon and Jordan Glasgow. The Patriots selected Michael Onwenu at No. 182. Patmon and Glasgow filled limited roles, while Onwenu became one of New England's best offensive linemen, starting at guard and tackle and eventually earning a multi-year contract to remain with the Patriots. New England won decisively.

Indianapolis traded cornerback Quincy Wilson to the Jets during the 2020 draft for pick No. 211 and used the selection on Isaiah Rodgers. Wilson produced only a brief Jets tenure, while Rodgers developed into a multi-season contributor in Indianapolis before his later suspension and release. The Colts received substantially more usable football value from the transaction and earn a B- to D+ win.

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.

Indianapolis moved down from No. 75 to No. 85 in the 2020 draft and received picks No. 149 and No. 182. The Colts selected Julian Blackmon and Danny Pinter before later trading No. 182. Detroit used No. 75 on Jonah Jackson and No. 197 on John Penisini. Jackson became a high-level starting guard, while Blackmon developed into a multi-year starting safety.

Indianapolis sent the 13th pick in the 2020 draft to San Francisco for DeForest Buckner and immediately signed him long term. Buckner became a first-team All-Pro in his first Colts season, added Pro Bowl selections and recorded 43 sacks for Indianapolis through 2025. San Francisco moved from No. 13 to No. 14 for Javon Kinlaw and gained another pick used in later movement. Kinlaw never approached Buckner's impact, making this a clear Colts win.

Miami acquired interior lineman Evan Boehm and a 2020 seventh-round pick from Indianapolis for a 2020 sixth-round selection shortly before the 2019 season. Boehm appeared in 13 games and started eight for the Dolphins, giving a rebuilding offensive line immediate veteran help. Indianapolis improved its draft position, but Miami received the more substantial direct football contribution.

Indianapolis sent cornerback Nate Hairston to New York for a conditional 2020 sixth-round pick. The condition was not satisfied, so the draft choice was never conveyed and the Colts ultimately received no draft asset from the transaction. The New York Jets produced the stronger realized return, supporting the New York Jets Win verdict.

Indianapolis traded defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway to Philadelphia during the 2019 draft for the No. 246 selection. The Colts used that seventh-round pick on offensive lineman Javon Patterson, who spent his rookie season on injured reserve and never appeared in a regular-season game for Indianapolis. Patterson later played one NFL game for Cleveland, leaving the Colts with virtually no realized return.

Indianapolis sent picks No. 129 and No. 135 to Oakland to move up for safety Khari Willis at No. 109. Willis started regularly for three seasons and gave the Colts solid defensive value before retiring in 2022. Oakland's two picks ultimately produced Isaiah Johnson plus the trade capital that became Foster Moreau and Quinton Bell, keeping the overall return competitive.

Indianapolis traded the 26th pick in 2019 to Washington for No. 46 and a 2020 second-rounder. The Colts then moved No. 46 again, turning it into Ben Banogu and Marvell Tell, while the future choice became Michael Pittman Jr. Pittman developed into a long-term starting receiver and multiple-time 1,000-yard producer, giving Indianapolis the strongest piece of its eventual return despite Montez Sweat’s success in Washington.

Indianapolis acquired wide receiver Marcus Johnson from Seattle in exchange for tight end Darrell Daniels at the 2018 roster deadline. Johnson grew into useful receiver depth for the Colts, including 277 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 2019 and another 255 yards in 2020. Daniels gave Seattle only a brief role before moving on, so Indianapolis realized the stronger return.

Green Bay acquired linebacker Antonio Morrison from Indianapolis for cornerback Lenzy Pipkins just before the 2018 season. Morrison played all 16 games for the Packers, recorded 47 tackles and added a sack, giving Green Bay immediate defensive and special-teams utility. Pipkins did not establish a comparable Colts role, so the Packers received the more meaningful original-team return from the straight player swap.

Indianapolis sent defensive lineman Henry Anderson to the Jets for pick No. 235, then used that seventh-round selection on linebacker Zaire Franklin. Anderson immediately produced seven sacks in New York and earned a multi-year extension, so the Jets received legitimate value. Franklin nevertheless became the superior long-term asset, growing from special-teams contributor into Colts captain, tackle leader and 2024 second-team All-Pro linebacker.

Indianapolis turned the acquired choices into Daurice Fountain and Deon Cain. Both players reached the NFL, but neither delivered a sustained Colts role comparable to the defensive snaps Maurice Hurst supplied for the Raiders. The Colts gained two chances from the move down, yet the direct on-field return from those selections remained limited during their time with the franchise.

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.

Philadelphia sent picks No. 52 and No. 169 to Indianapolis to move up three spots to No. 49 and select tight end Dallas Goedert. Philadelphia used No. 49 on Dallas Goedert, who developed into a long-term starting tight end and major postseason contributor. Indianapolis received Kemoko Turay and Jordan Wilkins; both supplied useful stretches, but neither approached Goedert's sustained impact. The Eagles paid a fifth-round pick to move only three spots, and the player they targeted justified the premium.

Indianapolis turned the third pick in the 2018 draft into a four-pick package that became Quenton Nelson, Braden Smith, additional 2018 draft capital and the 2019 selection used on Rock Ya-Sin. Nelson became one of the league’s defining guards and Smith a long-term starting tackle. New York used No. 3 on Sam Darnold, whose Jets tenure lasted three seasons before he was traded to Carolina.

Indianapolis and New England swapped former high draft picks at roster cuts in 2017, with Jacoby Brissett going to the Colts and Phillip Dorsett to the Patriots. Brissett became Indianapolis' emergency starter almost immediately and ultimately made 30 starts across four seasons. Dorsett contributed as a rotational receiver for three New England seasons and earned a Super Bowl LIII ring, but Brissett delivered the larger team-specific role.

Indianapolis chose Luke Rhodes as its long snapper and dealt Thomas Hennessy to New York for safety Ronald Martin. Martin was waived at final cuts, later returned to the Colts' practice squad and never became a meaningful Indianapolis regular. Hennessy, by contrast, won the Jets' snapping job and remained a fixture for years, turning a fringe-roster exchange into a quietly excellent New York acquisition.

San Francisco traded up with Indianapolis on April 29, 2017, sending picks No. 143 and No. 161 to the Colts for No. 121. The 49ers used No. 121 on running back Joe Williams, who spent his rookie season on injured reserve and never appeared in a San Francisco regular-season game. Indianapolis used the return on Marlon Mack and Anthony Walker Jr., both of whom became multi-year starters and productive contributors.

New England acquired tight end Dwayne Allen and pick No. 200 from Indianapolis for the 137th pick in the 2017 draft. Allen spent two seasons with the Patriots, appearing in 29 regular-season games and serving primarily as a blocking tight end on teams that reached consecutive Super Bowls and won Super Bowl LIII. Indianapolis selected Zach Banner at No. 137 but waived him before he played a regular-season game for the Colts.

Green Bay sent Nos. 57, 125 and 248 to Indianapolis to move up nine spots for tackle Jason Spriggs at No. 48. Spriggs made nine starts in three Packers seasons. The Colts selected T.J. Green, Antonio Morrison and Austin Blythe; Green and Morrison contributed starts, while Blythe's best NFL work came after Indianapolis waived him. Neither club found the lasting impact needed to claim a clear win.

Indianapolis Colts received Sio Moore in the 2015-09-04 exchange with Las Vegas Raiders. Sio Moore's Indianapolis stay was short and did not turn into stable starting value for the Colts. The direct return and the football value it produced drive the hindsight judgment. Against the assets Indianapolis Colts surrendered, the result supports Las Vegas Raiders Win and a C- grade for Indianapolis Colts.

San Francisco moved down in the fifth round on May 2, 2015, sending pick No. 151 to Indianapolis for picks No. 165 and No. 244. The Colts used No. 151 on defensive tackle David Parry, who started all 32 games for Indianapolis across his first two seasons. The 49ers turned the return into punter Bradley Pinion and tackle Trent Brown, getting four seasons from Pinion plus 31 games and 28 starts from Brown before his later departure.

Tampa Bay moved from No. 65 to No. 61 and swapped fourth-round positions with Indianapolis to secure guard Ali Marpet. Marpet started all 101 games he played for the Buccaneers, became a Pro Bowler and helped anchor the offensive line for the Super Bowl LV champions. Indianapolis drafted D'Joun Smith and Clayton Geathers; Geathers became a useful safety, but Smith barely played. Tampa Bay landed the franchise-level player.

Seattle sent Indianapolis a 2015 sixth-round pick for cornerback Marcus Burley and received two seasons of useful secondary depth. Burley appeared in 26 regular-season games for the Seahawks and intercepted two passes. The Colts ultimately used the acquired selection at No. 207 on linebacker Amarlo Herrera, who appeared in only three NFL games. Seattle extracted the clearer on-field value from the modest exchange.

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.

Dallas Cowboys received Caesar Rayford in the exchange with Indianapolis Colts. Caesar Rayford appeared in seven Cowboys games without a start, so Dallas received only a small amount of on-field value. Against Indianapolis Colts' return of 2015 7th round pick (244th overall subsequently traded, Trent Brown), that outcome supports a D+ grade. The transaction is judged as Indianapolis Colts Win, with the mark based on the football value that actually followed from the deal.

Indianapolis and Baltimore exchanged two players on the edge of their respective rosters in August 2013: the Colts received receiver and returner David Reed, while the Ravens acquired running back Delone Carter. Baltimore waived Carter before the regular season, and Indianapolis released Reed in November after a limited special-teams role. Neither club received lasting value.

Indianapolis traded center A.Q. Shipley to Baltimore for a conditional 2014 seventh-round pick that became No. 232, used on tackle Ulrick John. Shipley appeared in all 16 games for the Ravens in 2013 and started the final nine before being waived the next summer. John spent his rookie year on injured reserve and never played a regular-season snap for Indianapolis, leaving Baltimore with the better realized 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.

Indianapolis and Philadelphia made a straight player-for-player swap in March 2013, with fullback Stanley Havili going to the Colts and defensive lineman Clifton Geathers joining the Eagles. Each filled a one-season role. Havili appeared in 13 games with eight starts and added 128 receiving yards for Indianapolis, while Geathers played all 16 games as a reserve for Philadelphia. Neither became a long-term piece, making the exchange essentially even.

Indianapolis acquired cornerback Vontae Davis from Miami for a 2013 second-round pick, with a conditional late-round selection included in the terms but ultimately not conveyed. Davis became a centerpiece of the Colts secondary and earned consecutive Pro Bowl selections in 2014 and 2015. Miami used the second-rounder on Jamar Taylor, who never matched Davis's impact for the Dolphins. Indianapolis received the premium player and clearly won the exchange.

Indianapolis Colts received Josh Gordy from Los Angeles Rams in the 2012-08-22 trade. Indianapolis acquired Josh Gordy. Los Angeles Rams's return was 2014 7th round pick (241st overall, C.B. Bryant). The Rams received a 2014 seventh-round pick and selected C.B. Bryant at No. 241. Those realized outcomes, rather than the labels on the assets alone, drive the hindsight grade.

Indianapolis acquired linebackers Moise Fokou and Greg Lloyd from Philadelphia for cornerback Kevin Thomas and a conditional 2013 seventh-round pick that was not conveyed. Fokou became the only side of the exchange to provide meaningful regular-season value for his new club, appearing throughout the Colts' 2012 season. Thomas was waived by Philadelphia before the regular season, and the conditional pick never materialized.

Indianapolis and Philadelphia swapped fringe defensive prospects at the start of 2012 training camp, with cornerback D.J. Johnson going to the Colts and defensive tackle Ollie Ogbu going to the Eagles. Johnson was waived by Indianapolis before the regular season and moved to the practice squad. Philadelphia released Ogbu at final cuts, leaving neither club with meaningful regular-season production.

Indianapolis Colts received Cassius Vaughn, while Denver Broncos received Chris Gronkowski. Vaughn played 32 games with 15 starts and four interceptions for Indianapolis; Gronkowski spent one season as a reserve fullback in Denver. The hindsight grades are A- for Indianapolis Colts and C- for Denver Broncos, producing a Indianapolis Colts Win verdict.

Indianapolis moved up to No. 92 in the 2012 draft and selected T.Y. Hilton, sending San Francisco pick No. 97 plus a 2013 fifth-round selection. Hilton became a four-time Pro Bowler and finished his Colts tenure with 631 receptions, 9,691 receiving yards and 53 touchdowns. That decade of high-end production overwhelms the respectable value San Francisco later extracted from its two draft assets.

Indianapolis received Drew Stanton, 2012 7th round pick (214th overall, Tim Fugger), while the Jets received 2012 6th round pick (187th overall, Josh Bush). The hindsight grades are C+ for Indianapolis and B- for the Jets. The verdict is grounded in the actual starts, production, tenure and downstream draft results produced by those assets.

Indianapolis acquired tackle Winston Justice and pick No. 187 for pick No. 172. Justice became a regular Colts starter in 2012, while Indianapolis later sent No. 187 to the Jets in the Drew Stanton trade. Philadelphia also extracted downstream value: No. 172 became part of the package used to move from No. 15 to No. 12 for Fletcher Cox. Both teams turned a small exchange into useful value.

Indianapolis moved up four spots for offensive lineman Ben Ijalana, sending Washington picks No. 53 and No. 152. Injuries prevented Ijalana from becoming a meaningful Colts contributor. Washington repeatedly recycled both acquired choices, turning them into portions of a broader 2011 draft-day chain that produced Leonard Hankerson, DeJon Gomes, Maurice Hurt, Roy Helu and Aldrick Robinson. The volume of usable downstream value clearly exceeded Indianapolis' return.

Indianapolis acquired cornerback Justin Tryon from Washington for a 2011 seventh-round pick. Tryon appeared in 12 games for the Colts in 2010, started six and recorded 44 tackles with seven passes defended before a short 2011 return. Washington used No. 224 on linebacker Markus White, who played only a handful of NFL games. Indianapolis received the more substantial contribution from a very small investment.

Indianapolis sent a future sixth-round pick to Philadelphia for No. 222 in 2009 and selected Pat McAfee. The seventh-rounder became one of the NFL's premier specialists, earning multiple Pro Bowls and first-team All-Pro recognition during eight Colts seasons. Philadelphia's 2010 sixth-round return became Charles Scott, who did not play a regular-season game for the Eagles, making this a massive Indianapolis win.

Miami moved down five spots in the second round and added a fifth-rounder, selecting Sean Smith at No. 61 and Chris Clemons at No. 165. Smith became a four-year starting corner for the Dolphins, while Clemons developed into a regular starter at safety. Indianapolis got useful defensive tackle Fili Moala at No. 56, but Miami created more total starting value from the two-player return.

Buffalo and Indianapolis announced a deadline deal on October 14, 2008 that would have sent defensive tackle John McCargo to the Colts for a conditional draft pick. The exchange never became effective: McCargo failed Indianapolis' physical, the trade was voided, and his rights returned to Buffalo. No player or draft choice ultimately changed clubs.

San Francisco converted the No. 42 pick into two selections: No. 126 in 2007, used on Dashon Goldson, and No. 29 in 2008, used on Kentwan Balmer. Balmer never started a game for the 49ers, but Goldson developed into a multi-year starting safety and later an All-Pro-caliber player. That high-end Goldson outcome outweighed Tony Ugoh's shorter starting run in Indianapolis.

Indianapolis acquired defensive tackle Anthony McFarland from Tampa Bay at the 2006 trade deadline for a 2007 second-round pick. McFarland stepped into the Colts defense and helped the club finish its run to a Super Bowl XLI championship. Tampa Bay used No. 64 on safety Sabby Piscitelli, who started 20 games for the Buccaneers, giving both sides real value.

Indianapolis acquired rookie defensive end Ryan LaCasse from Baltimore for a 2008 seventh-round pick shortly before the 2006 season, a low-cost exchange centered on depth and special teams. Neither side gained a cornerstone. Indianapolis received short-term depth on a title team, while Baltimore recouped a future late-round choice, making the exchange essentially balanced.

Baltimore reacquired safety Gerome Sapp from Indianapolis for a conditional 2007 seventh-round pick, adding an experienced special-teams player and reserve defensive back to a contending roster. The deal did not alter either franchise dramatically, but Baltimore obtained the more tangible on-field service from a player who already knew its system.

Indianapolis sent a 2007 sixth-round pick to Tennessee for No. 238 in the 2006 draft and selected return specialist T.J. Rushing. The future pick became No. 206, which Tennessee used on Ryan Smith. Rushing contributed on special teams for the Colts and scored on a punt return during his tenure, while Smith did not record an NFL regular-season appearance.

Indianapolis acquired linebacker Rocky Calmus from Tennessee on September 3, 2005 for a conditional 2006 seventh-round pick that became No. 238 overall. Colts trade history identifies the exact selection. Calmus did not develop into a meaningful regular-season contributor for Indianapolis, so the move produced little direct on-field return even though the acquisition cost was only a late-round choice.

Indianapolis gave Philadelphia a 2006 fourth-round pick to acquire the 148th selection in 2005 and draft defensive end Jonathan Welsh. Welsh appeared in only six games for the Colts. Philadelphia carried the future fourth into the 2006 draft and used it in a sequence of trades that helped create more roster value, giving the Eagles the better return from a patient move.

Atlanta sent second-, third- and fourth-round picks to Indianapolis for the 29th and 90th selections, drafting Michael Jenkins and Matt Schaub. Jenkins became a seven-year Falcons receiver with more than 3,000 yards for the club, while Schaub later generated two second-round picks when Atlanta traded him to Houston. The combined return gave the Falcons both production and valuable future trade capital.

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.

Pittsburgh traded up from No. 44 to No. 38 in the 2004 second round for cornerback Ricardo Colclough, sending Indianapolis the 44th and 107th picks. The Colts used No. 44 on Bob Sanders, who became a first-team All-Pro and the 2007 AP Defensive Player of the Year, while Kendyll Pope added depth from the fourth-round pick. Colclough never became a comparable starter, making Indianapolis the overwhelming winner.

Indianapolis traded safety Rich Coady to St. Louis at the end of the 2003 preseason for a 2004 seventh-round pick, which became kicker David Kimball at No. 229. The Rams received immediate defensive-back depth and the Colts received a late selection, but neither return developed into meaningful long-term team-specific value.

Indianapolis acquired the 138th pick in the 2003 draft from Houston and used it on Robert Mathis, sending the Texans a 2004 fourth-rounder that became safety Glenn Earl at No. 122. Mathis developed into one of the greatest pass rushers in Colts history, finishing with 123 career sacks and 52 forced fumbles. Houston received a short-term starter, creating an enormous value gap.

Indianapolis Colts received David Gibson. David Gibson started nine games for Indianapolis in 2002 and gave the Colts immediate secondary help. That short-term starting contribution exceeded the value Tampa Bay ultimately realized from the future pick. Compared with Tampa Bay Buccaneers' return, the result supports a B+ grade and fits the Indianapolis Colts Win verdict.

Indianapolis acquired running back Ricky Williams from New Orleans at the 2002 roster cutdown for a 2003 seventh-round pick. This was the former Texas Tech back, not the star running back with the same name. Williams gave the Colts modest depth over two seasons, totaling 190 rushing yards, 177 receiving yards and four touchdowns. New Orleans received a late pick that was later moved. Neither side generated enough value for a clear win.

Seattle sent quarterback Brock Huard to Indianapolis in 2002 and received the 146th pick, which became defensive tackle Rocky Bernard. Bernard developed into a long-term Seahawks contributor and eventually finished his career with 33 sacks across 160 games. Huard saw almost no action for Indianapolis, appearing in only two games in 2003 and attempting three passes. Seattle transformed a spare quarterback into years of defensive-line value.

Indianapolis sent return specialist Terrence Wilkins to the Rams for the 183rd pick in the 2002 draft, which the Colts used on safety James Lewis. Lewis did not become a regular-season contributor for Indianapolis. Wilkins, by contrast, immediately handled heavy kickoff- and punt-return work for St. Louis in 2002, including more than 1,000 kickoff-return yards. The Rams received the only substantial NFL value from the exchange.

Indianapolis moved from No. 52 to No. 37 in the 2001 second round and selected safety Idrees Bashir, sending Dallas Nos. 52 and 81. Bashir played 71 career games and recorded six interceptions. Dallas immediately recycled both acquired selections into later trades rather than drafting Chris Chambers or Kenny Smith itself. Those moves created useful downstream value, but Indianapolis receives a narrow edge for securing a multi-year defensive starter directly.

Indianapolis traded the 22nd pick in the 2001 draft to the Giants for picks 30, 91 and 193. New York selected cornerback Will Allen at No. 22, while the Colts used No. 30 on Reggie Wayne and the later choices on Cory Bird and Jason Doering. Allen became a long-term NFL starter, but Wayne's 1,006 catches, 13,566 yards and 80 touchdowns gave Indianapolis the decisive return.

New York moved up from No. 30 to No. 22 in the 2001 draft and selected cornerback Will Allen, sending Indianapolis picks No. 30, 91 and 193. Allen became a five-year Giants starter and delivered useful value. Indianapolis used No. 30 on Reggie Wayne, who became a franchise great and Super Bowl champion, making the Colts’ return decisively stronger.

St. Louis acquired punter John Baker from Indianapolis for a 2002 sixth-round pick. Baker became the Rams’ punter for the 2000 and 2001 seasons, appearing in 31 games and handling 86 punts, including the season that ended in Super Bowl XXXVI. Indianapolis used pick No. 204 on running back Brian Allen, who played only four NFL games. Two seasons of starting specialist value gives St. Louis the win.

Carolina sent running back Fred Lane to Indianapolis for linebacker Spencer Reid on April 21, 2000. Reid was a reserve-level player, but he at least appeared in NFL games after the exchange. Lane tragically died on July 6, before he could play a regular-season game for the Colts. Judged strictly by realized football return, Carolina received the only on-field value, though the circumstances make this unlike an ordinary trade outcome.

Indianapolis moved up 20 spots in the fifth round for guard Matt Johnson, sending New Orleans picks No. 158 and No. 195. Johnson never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. The Saints used No. 158 on tight end Austin Wheatley and No. 195 on defensive back Michael Hawthorne; Hawthorne played 63 career games and made 19 starts. That usable sixth-round return gives New Orleans the win.

Indianapolis Colts received 2000 7th round pick (238th overall, Rodregis Brooks). Indianapolis received the 2000 seventh-round choice used on Rodregis Brooks, whose Colts career lasted five games with no starts. Cooper's 44 Raiders games and 11 starts comfortably outpaced Brooks' five-game Colts tenure, making Oakland the clear winner. That outcome supports a D grade for Indianapolis Colts.

San Francisco traded pick No. 96 to Indianapolis on April 18, 1999 for picks No. 99 and No. 171. The Colts used No. 96 on defensive back Paul Miranda, who played five games for Indianapolis. The 49ers used No. 99 on Anthony Parker, whose rookie year was lost to a torn ACL, and No. 171 on Tai Streets, who became a productive five-year San Francisco receiver with 2,008 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns.

The Rams' trade for Marshall Faulk became one of the greatest offensive acquisitions in NFL history. St. Louis paid a modest draft-pick price for a Hall of Fame running back who became the centerpiece of the Greatest Show on Turf. Indianapolis moved a star. The Rams acquired a championship engine. The deal became historic because Faulk did not merely improve the Rams; he helped unlock one of the most famous offenses the league has ever seen.

Indianapolis and New Orleans swapped linebacker Andre Royal for tight end Scott Slutzker at the end of the 1998 preseason. Royal stepped directly into the Colts defense, appearing in 13 games with nine starts that season and making 51 tackles. Slutzker played only three games for New Orleans in 1998 and 11 in 1999. Indianapolis received the more substantial immediate return.

Pittsburgh sent linebacker Steve Conley to Indianapolis on August 30, 1998 and received the Colts' 1999 fifth-round pick. The selection became No. 136, Jerame Tuman. Indianapolis obtained immediate linebacker depth, while Pittsburgh turned Conley into a draft asset that produced a long-term tight end for the Steelers. That lasting return gives Pittsburgh the better side of an otherwise modest transaction.

Carolina traded cornerback Tyrone Poole to Indianapolis for a 1999 second-round selection that became tackle Chris Terry at No. 34. Poole started 41 games over three Colts seasons and intercepted five passes. Terry became an immediate Panthers starter and eventually started 88 NFL games, giving both clubs substantial multi-year value from opposite sides of the player-for-pick exchange.

Indianapolis traded picks 104, 124 and 154 to Baltimore for the 93rd pick in the 1998 draft and selected offensive lineman Steve McKinney. McKinney started all 60 games he played for the Colts and finished a 10-year career with 143 games and 133 starts. Baltimore received three later selections and additional flexibility, but none of the direct return matched the long-term starting value Indianapolis found at No. 93.

Cincinnati acquired quarterback Paul Justin from Indianapolis for a fifth-round pick in March 1998. Justin appeared in five games with three starts for the Bengals, throwing for 426 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. Indianapolis used the 135th pick on linebacker Antony Jordan, who played 27 NFL games and made three starts. Both sides received modest depth value without a lasting starter.

Baltimore acquired veteran quarterback Jim Harbaugh and the 93rd pick from Indianapolis on February 17, 1998, sending the Colts picks 71 and 104. Harbaugh started 12 games for the Ravens in 1998, while Indianapolis used No. 71 on receiver E.G. Green and later moved No. 104 in another trade. Neither side created major long-term value from the original exchange, making the deal a balanced veteran-for-draft-capital swap.

San Francisco traded picks No. 86 and No. 156 to Indianapolis on April 19, 1997 for pick No. 77. The 49ers selected tight end Greg Clark, who played four seasons for San Francisco and started 39 of 55 regular-season games. Indianapolis used the return on Bertrand Berry and Carl Powell; Berry played 42 Colts games with 13 starts, while Powell appeared in 11 games before continuing his career elsewhere.

Tampa Bay traded quarterback Craig Erickson to Indianapolis on April 27, 1995 for the Colts’ 1996 first-round pick. Erickson played only six games and made three starts for Indianapolis before moving on. The future pick landed at No. 22, where Tampa Bay selected defensive lineman Marcus Jones. Jones spent seven seasons with the Buccaneers and posted 13 sacks in 2000. Turning a short-term quarterback into a first-round starter gave Tampa Bay the clear advantage.

Indianapolis moved into the fifth overall position in the 1994 draft and selected linebacker Trev Alberts. Alberts played only 29 NFL games and recorded four sacks before injuries ended his career. The Rams controlled the outgoing draft position and later moved the selection again, preserving additional value rather than directly selecting the player who ultimately went at that slot.

Atlanta acquired quarterback Jeff George from Indianapolis for two 1994 picks and a conditional 1996 first-rounder. George produced several prolific passing seasons for the Falcons, but Indianapolis eventually converted the future first into No. 19 and selected Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison. The Colts' return, especially Harrison, overwhelms Atlanta's shorter quarterback payoff.

Indianapolis moved from No. 100 to No. 92 in the 1993 fourth round, sending Chicago No. 100 and No. 156. The Colts selected defensive back Derwin Gray, while the Bears chose linebacker Myron Baker at No. 100 and later used No. 156 in another draft trade. Neither side found a star, but Chicago created two usable assets from moving down eight spots and gets the edge.

Indianapolis sent the 73rd and 127th picks to the Rams for No. 65 in the 1993 draft and selected cornerback Ray Buchanan. The Rams chose Russell White and Chuck Belin with the return. Buchanan became a long-term NFL starter and intercepted 16 passes during his Colts tenure before later starring in Atlanta, giving Indianapolis the best realized value from the exchange.

Pittsburgh moved from No. 49 to No. 44 in the 1993 second round, sending Indianapolis No. 49 and No. 107. The Steelers selected linebacker Chad Brown, who became a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler in Pittsburgh. Indianapolis landed running back Roosevelt Potts and linebacker Devon McDonald, both useful players. The Colts received real value, but Brown's peak and impact make Pittsburgh the clear winner.

Green Bay acquired defensive back Dave McCloughan from Indianapolis on August 19, 1992, for a 1993 sixth-round pick that became No. 156. McCloughan appeared in only five games for the Packers. Indianapolis later used No. 156 as part of a draft-day move that helped obtain No. 92, where the Colts selected Derwin Gray. The Colts receive a narrow win based on that longer team-specific return.

Indianapolis traded Eric Dickerson to the Los Angeles Raiders during the 1992 draft for fourth- and eighth-round selections. The Colts used the fourth-rounder on defensive tackle Tony McCoy, whose NFL career reached 114 games and 23 sacks, and the eighth-rounder on Ronald Humphrey, who played 26 games. Moving the aging running back for two selections gave Indianapolis the more durable overall return.

Indianapolis acquired veteran tackle Irv Pankey from the Rams in September 1991 for third- and eleventh-round selections in the 1992 draft. Pankey's Colts stay was brief, while the Rams used the third-rounder on Marc Boutte, who started 31 of 32 games across his first two NFL seasons. Los Angeles received the more durable and useful return.

Indianapolis acquired tight end Robert Tyler from the Los Angeles Raiders on August 20, 1991 for a conditional 1992 ninth-round selection. Tyler did not appear in a regular-season game for the Colts, and the condition was not satisfied, so Indianapolis never surrendered the pick. Neither side ultimately received meaningful realized football value from the low-cost transaction.

Tampa Bay acquired quarterback Chris Chandler from Indianapolis in July 1990 and surrendered its 1992 first-round pick. The choice became No. 2 overall, where the Colts selected linebacker Quentin Coryatt. Chandler's Buccaneers stint was brief and unsuccessful, while Coryatt became a six-year Indianapolis starter, creating a severe value gap in the Colts' favor.

Atlanta converted the No. 1 pick in the 1990 draft into a broad package built around proven tackle Chris Hinton, explosive receiver Andre Rison and future first-round value. The 1991 first-rounder became Mike Pritchard, while the 1990 fifth-rounder became Reggie Redding. That collection gave the Falcons multiple productive starters and spread the risk of one premium selection across several valuable assets.

Indianapolis acquired linebacker Chip Banks from San Diego on October 17, 1989 for a conditional pick that became the 67th selection in 1990, wide receiver Walter Wilson. Banks started 51 games for the Colts across four seasons and finished his Indianapolis tenure with a nine-sack 1992 season. Wilson played 14 games with five starts and 87 receiving yards for the Chargers, leaving Indianapolis clearly ahead.

Dallas sent defensive lineman Zefross Moss to Indianapolis on August 22, 1989 for a 1990 tenth-round pick, later used on Jim Szymanski. The transaction was separate from the same-day Chuck Ehin deal. Moss did not become a major Colts contributor, while Szymanski was a late-round selection with limited NFL impact. With neither side extracting substantial long-term value, the cleanly separated trade belongs in the even range.

Indianapolis acquired veteran tackle Bill Contz from Denver for a conditional 1990 eleventh-round pick. The condition was never exercised, so Denver ultimately received no draft selection, but Contz also lasted only briefly with the Colts and was released before the 1989 regular season. With neither side receiving lasting football value, the most accurate hindsight result is an even, low-impact transaction.

Indianapolis sent Washington the 129th pick in the 1989 draft, used on Tim Smiley, for two 1990 choices that became Alan Grant at No. 103 and Harvey Wilson at No. 213. Grant immediately gave the Colts two full seasons, appearing in 32 games with eight starts and returning kicks. Smiley did not become an NFL regular-season contributor, giving Indianapolis the better return.

Indianapolis traded Pro Bowl guard Ron Solt to Philadelphia for a 1989 first-round pick and a 1990 fourth-rounder. The first became Andre Rison, who produced 820 receiving yards as a Colts rookie before becoming one of the league's premier receivers later in his career. Turning an established lineman into a first-round skill player plus another selection gave Indianapolis the stronger long-term asset return.

Seattle traded linebacker Fredd Young to Indianapolis for first-round selections in both 1989 and 1990. The 1989 pick became tackle Andy Heck, while the 1990 first-rounder later became part of Seattle's trade-up for Cortez Kennedy rather than a direct Ray Agnew selection. Turning one veteran into two premium assets created enormous flexibility and helped shape the Seahawks for years.

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.

New York acquired veteran tight end Tim Sherwin from Indianapolis on August 15, 1988 for the Giants' 1989 seventh-round draft choice. Sherwin appeared in three regular-season games for New York without a reception before injuries ended his playing career. Indianapolis used the acquired No. 185 selection on defensive back Charles Washington, who played all 16 games for the Colts as a rookie.

Indianapolis sent defensive back Leonard Coleman to San Diego on July 8, 1988 for a 1990 twelfth-round pick. That selection became No. 311, Gene Benhart, who did not establish an NFL career. Coleman gave the Chargers immediate veteran depth and appeared during the 1988 season. The return was modest on both sides, but San Diego received the more useful direct value.

The May 25, 1988 entry reflects the reversal of Indianapolis' earlier deal for Ken Woodard. The Colts had agreed to send Pittsburgh a conditional 1989 twelfth-round pick, but Woodard failed his physical and the transaction was negated. Woodard returned to the Steelers and the conditional pick was never exercised, leaving neither franchise with meaningful lasting value from the aborted exchange.

Tampa Bay acquired veteran quarterback Joe Ferguson from Indianapolis in April 1988 for a 1989 twelfth-round pick, No. 314 William DuBose. Ferguson gave the Buccaneers experienced quarterback depth during the 1988 and 1989 seasons. Because the acquisition cost was extremely late draft capital, Tampa Bay receives a small edge even though the move never became a major success.

Indianapolis acquired veteran receiver Charlie Brown from Atlanta on April 27, 1988 for a conditional 1989 twelfth-round pick. Brown had been a productive receiver earlier in the decade, but the Colts released him on July 26 before the regular season. The conditional selection was not exercised, so neither club received a lasting roster or draft return.

San Diego sent quarterback Mark Herrmann back to Indianapolis in April 1988 for a late 1989 draft choice. Chargers historical records identify the compensation as an eleventh-round pick, not a conditional selection that disappeared. Herrmann did not survive the Colts' final 1988 roster decisions and soon joined the Rams, leaving Indianapolis without regular-season value. San Diego at least secured draft capital, producing a modest C+ to D+ Chargers win.

Indianapolis acquired Clarence Verdin from Washington on March 29, 1988 for a sixth-round pick, No. 159, later used on quarterback Stan Humphries. Verdin became a multi-year Colts receiver and return specialist, producing 437 receiving yards and four touchdowns in his first Indianapolis season. Humphries later had a strong NFL career, but Washington realized little of that success before he left the franchise.

Buffalo obtained the rights to linebacker Cornelius Bennett on October 31, 1987, surrendering Greg Bell plus first-round picks in 1988 and 1989 and a 1989 second-rounder. Bennett became a centerpiece of the Bills defense during the franchise's Super Bowl run, making the premium package worthwhile despite the substantial price Buffalo paid.

The 1987 three-team blockbuster sent Eric Dickerson from the Rams to Indianapolis and the rights to Cornelius Bennett from the Colts to Buffalo. Los Angeles received Greg Bell, Owen Gill, and six draft choices: first-rounders that became Gaston Green, Aaron Cox, and Cleveland Gary, plus second-rounders Fred Strickland, Frank Stams, and Darryl Henley. All three clubs received substantial assets.

New York traded nose tackle Jerome Sally to Indianapolis on September 2, 1987 for the Colts' 1988 seventh-round draft choice. That pick became No. 186 overall, tight end Danta Whitaker. Sally played 12 games and started eight for Indianapolis in 1987, while Whitaker spent his Giants rookie year on injured reserve and never appeared in a New York regular-season game.

Detroit acquired Derrick Ramsey from Indianapolis in September 1987 for the 1988 twelfth-round pick that became No. 308 Aatron Kenney. Ramsey appeared only briefly for the Lions, while the late selection did not produce a major Colts return. With limited realized value on both sides, the trade belongs near the middle of the grading scale.

Indianapolis conditionally acquired defensive back Demetrious Johnson from Detroit for a 1989 twelfth-round pick, but Colts records mark the selection as tied to an unmet condition. The pick was therefore not exercised, and Johnson did not appear in a regular-season game for Indianapolis before playing three games for Miami in 1987. With no durable value transferred, the result is even.

Buffalo's return ultimately became the 1988 eighth-round selection used on Jeff Wright after Roger Caron's retirement triggered replacement consideration. Wright became a seven-season Bills defensive lineman, started 67 games, recorded 31.5 sacks, and played on all four Buffalo Super Bowl teams. That level of sustained production from late-round compensation turned the transaction into a major long-term success.

Indianapolis acquired defensive back and returner Kirk Springs from the Jets on April 1, 1987 for a conditional 1988 twelfth-round pick. Springs did not make the Colts' regular-season roster and was released in August. Because the trade condition failed, the twelfth-round choice reverted to Indianapolis, leaving the Colts with no regular-season production and the Jets with no lasting draft return.

Indianapolis acquired the rights to receiver Walter Murray from Washington on October 7, 1986, sending a 1987 second-round pick that became No. 30. Murray contributed modestly during two Colts seasons, while Washington used No. 30 on defensive back Brian Davis, who also failed to become a major long-term piece. Neither side created enough separation to claim a meaningful victory.

The Giants traded defensive back Kenny Daniel to Indianapolis on August 26, 1986 for the Colts' 1987 ninth-round pick, No. 225. New York used the selection on Nebraska guard Stan Parker, who did not record an NFL regular-season appearance.

Indianapolis Colts received John Holt from Tampa Bay Buccaneers, giving up 1987 eighth round pick (#197-Stan Mataele). The eighth-round return is specifically 1987 selection No. 197. The return supports a B grade because the value directly tied to this deal fits that mark. The final verdict is Indianapolis Colts Win.

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 sent offensive tackle Jim Mills to Denver for a future undisclosed draft choice. Contemporary reporting supports that general compensation but not the previously listed exact conditional tenth-round description. Because no reliable later selection can be tied to the deal, the Colts' return remains modest and difficult to value beyond the fact that they received future draft consideration. A C grade is appropriate.

Indianapolis sent the 144th pick to the Rams in the 1986 draft for picks No. 172, No. 190 and No. 326. The Colts selected Chris White, Tommy Sims and Isaac Williams; Sims appeared in one NFL game, while White and Williams did not become regular-season Colts contributors. The Rams used No. 144 on Robert Cox, later Robert Jenkins, who developed into a multi-year NFL linebacker, giving Los Angeles the better return.

Dallas traded quarterback Gary Hogeboom to Indianapolis on April 28, 1986, moving from No. 47 to No. 33 in the next day's second round and receiving a conditional 1987 fifth-round pick that was not exercised. Dallas selected Darryl Clack at No. 33. Indianapolis received Hogeboom and used No. 47 on Jack Trudeau, whose long Colts tenure gave Indianapolis the stronger overall return despite mixed quarterback results.

Indianapolis moved from No. 6 to No. 4 before the 1986 draft and selected defensive lineman Jon Hand, sending New Orleans No. 6 and No. 60. Hand became a nine-year Colt with 35.5 sacks, so Indianapolis received a good player. New Orleans, however, drafted Jim Dombrowski and Pat Swilling; Swilling became Defensive Player of the Year and a five-time Pro Bowler, giving the Saints the superior return.

Indianapolis acquired linebacker Dave Ahrens from St. Louis on August 27, 1985, for a 1986 tenth-round pick. Ahrens appeared in 44 regular-season games for the Colts over three seasons and started 10 games in 1986. St. Louis used the No. 255 selection on receiver Wes Smith, who played only one NFL game. Indianapolis converted a late pick into substantially more usable roster value and wins the exchange.

Buffalo Bills received 1986 eleventh round pick (#282-Billy Witt) from Indianapolis Colts, sending Matt Kofler the other way. Neither return created meaningful long-term value, making an even grade reasonable. That outcome supports a C grade for Buffalo Bills, and the overall verdict is Even Trade.

Indianapolis acquired linebacker Tim Golden from New England on August 2, 1985 for a conditional 1986 tenth-round pick. Golden did not appear in a Colts regular-season game and was waived before the season, after which Philadelphia claimed him. The conditional pick was not exercised, leaving both franchises with no realized regular-season or draft value from the exchange.

Indianapolis traded linebacker Vernon Maxwell to San Diego on August 1, 1985 for a 1986 fifth-round pick. The Colts later used that selection, No. 124 overall, on center Gary Walker. Walker never became a contributor for Indianapolis, but the Colts at least converted an expendable player into meaningful draft capital. That matters because Maxwell did not survive San Diego’s final preseason cuts.

Detroit and Indianapolis exchanged Alvin Moore and Robbie Martin on July 25, 1985. Moore gave the Lions useful backfield production, including 221 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns and one receiving score in 1985. Martin contributed as a receiver and return option for Indianapolis but did not become a major long-term piece. Neither club created a large enough advantage to separate the deal decisively.

The Cardinals sent Eddie McGill to Indianapolis on July 23, 1985 for a conditional 1986 twelfth-round pick. The condition was not exercised, leaving St. Louis without a realized draft selection, while McGill did not produce meaningful regular-season value for the Colts. With neither side converting the transaction into a lasting contribution, the practical outcome was essentially neutral.

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.

Indianapolis sent quarterback Mark Herrmann to San Diego on March 27, 1985, for a 1986 tenth-round pick that became No. 266 and guard Pete Anderson. Herrmann gave the Chargers three seasons of backup quarterback value, including 1,537 passing yards and 10 touchdowns in 1985. Anderson never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. San Diego clearly received the stronger realized return from a low-cost exchange.

Indianapolis acquired George Radachowsky from the Rams on August 27, 1984 for a 1985 eleventh-round pick. Radachowsky played all 16 games as a Colts rookie and three more in 1985, giving Indianapolis immediate depth. Los Angeles used the pick on Doug Flutie, who never played for the Rams but whose rights were later traded to Chicago for future draft value. Both teams extracted something useful.

Baltimore acquired quarterback Mark Reed from the Los Angeles Rams on August 31, 1983 in exchange for linebacker Mark Jerue. Reed appeared in only one game for the Colts that season, completing six of ten passes for 34 yards with one interception, and did not become a lasting answer at quarterback. The Colts surrendered a linebacker who went on to provide the Rams with years of useful defensive service.

Dallas traded kicker Raul Allegre to Baltimore for a 1984 ninth-round pick after Allegre lost a training-camp competition. The Cowboys eventually used No. 232 on John Hunt, who played only a handful of NFL games. Allegre immediately became one of the league's most productive kickers, making 30 of 35 field goals in 1983 and scoring 112 points for the Colts, then remaining with the franchise through 1985.

Detroit traded wide receiver Tracy Porter to Baltimore on August 29, 1983 for a 1984 late-round choice that became No. 259, William Frizzell. Porter immediately caught 28 passes for 384 yards in 1983, then added 39 receptions for 590 yards in 1984. Frizzell played 24 games for Detroit without a start before building more of his career elsewhere, giving the Colts the better team-specific return.

Dallas traded offensive lineman Steve Wright to Baltimore in August 1983 for a 1985 sixth-round pick. Wright immediately started 10 games for the Colts in 1983 and nine more in 1984, giving Baltimore two seasons of useful line play. Dallas used No. 144 on Kurt Ploeger, whose NFL career totaled only five games and one start, leaving the Colts with the stronger direct return.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers received Reese McCall; Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts received conditional 1984 seventh-round pick that did not convey. Tampa Bay waived McCall before the 1983 regular season, and Detroit claimed him two days later. The Colts' conditional seventh-round compensation did not convey, leaving Baltimore with no realized draft asset. The realized outcomes support Even Trade, with Tampa Bay Buccaneers graded C and Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts graded C.

Detroit traded tackle Karl Baldischwiler to Baltimore during 1983 training camp for a 1984 seventh-round choice. The Lions used No. 178 on Jimmie Carter, whose NFL career amounted to one game and did not create value for Detroit. Baldischwiler immediately started all 14 games he played for the Colts in 1983 and later returned to start additional games for Indianapolis, giving the Colts the clear advantage.

Denver acquired the rights to No. 1 overall pick John Elway from the Colts for Chris Hinton, Mark Herrmann and a 1984 first-round selection that became Ron Solt. Elway became Denver's Hall of Fame franchise quarterback, leading five Super Bowl appearances and two championships. Hinton and Solt gave the Colts substantial value, but no return could match Elway's transformative career.

Baltimore acquired Glenn Hyde from Denver and sent away the draft choice that became 1983 eighth-round pick No. 197 Gary Kubiak. Hyde supplied only a brief Colts return and did not develop into a lasting contributor. Kubiak, meanwhile, stayed with Denver for nine seasons and appeared in 119 regular-season games, creating a large difference in realized value.

Seattle acquired veteran receiver Roger Carr from Baltimore for a 1984 fourth-round pick in September 1982. Carr caught 15 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns in nine Seahawks games before leaving after the season. The Colts used No. 103 on running back George Wonsley, who played five seasons for Indianapolis and rushed for 716 yards with six touchdowns in 1985 alone. Indianapolis received the stronger return.

Atlanta Falcons received Dave Smigelsky, while Indianapolis Colts received 1983 ninth round pick (#241-Chris Rose). Atlanta acquired punter Dave Smigelsky from Baltimore for the 1983 ninth-round selection used on tackle Chris Rose. That return earns a C+ grade for Atlanta Falcons, and the overall verdict is Atlanta Falcons Win.

Indianapolis acquired linebacker Zack Valentine from Pittsburgh on August 31, 1982 for a conditional 1983 twelfth-round pick. Pittsburgh's own historical trade record states that the condition was not met, so no selection was exercised. The Colts therefore obtained Valentine without ultimately surrendering draft capital, while the Steelers created only a contingent chance of receiving a late pick.

Seattle sent a 1984 fifth-round pick to Baltimore for veteran guard Robert Pratt in July 1982. Pratt became a four-year Seattle fixture, starting every game he played for the Seahawks. Baltimore later used No. 130 on tackle Kevin Call, who spent ten seasons with the Colts and started 87 games, giving both clubs unusually durable line production.

Baltimore traded veteran safety Bruce Laird to San Diego in May 1982 for a 1983 sixth-round pick. Laird gave the Chargers 23 games over two seasons and started six times in the strike-shortened 1982 season. The Colts used No. 161 on center Grant Feasel, who appeared in 17 games for Baltimore and Indianapolis without a start before continuing his career elsewhere. San Diego received the better direct return.

Los Angeles paid the fourth and 34th selections in the 1982 draft for veteran quarterback Bert Jones, hoping the former MVP-caliber passer could stabilize the position. Jones started only four games for the Rams before a serious neck injury ended his career. The short return made the price costly even though Baltimore's first-round choice, Art Schlichter, became a major disappointment.

Baltimore acquired kicker Mike Wood from San Diego on August 31, 1981 for a 1983 sixth-round pick. Wood handled the Colts' kicking job for all 16 games in 1981 and six more in 1982. The Chargers used No. 141 in 1983 on receiver Trumaine Johnson, who later played two seasons for San Diego and caught 34 passes for 450 yards and two touchdowns. Both received value, with the Chargers holding the edge.

Washington acquired veteran defensive end Fred Cook from Baltimore in July 1981 under conditional draft terms reported as a 1982 ninth-round pick and a possible 1983 sixth-rounder. Cook was released in August before making the regular-season roster, and Washington reclaimed the ninth-round choice; the playing-time condition for the later pick was not met. With no games for Washington and no realized draft return for Baltimore, the direct outcome is even.

New York acquired Lyle Blackwood on a conditional deal, but the Giants released him on August 31, 1981, before he appeared in a regular-season game. The Colts were owed a 1982 12th-round pick only if Blackwood made the Giants roster; transaction records mark that condition as not exercised. With zero Giants games and no draft asset realized by Baltimore, neither side produced football value. The correct result is D/D and Even Trade.

Baltimore traded running back Joe Washington to Washington for the 52nd pick in the 1981 draft. The Colts did not use that selection on Jarvis Redwine; they immediately included No. 52 in their move-up with Minnesota for No. 18. Joe Washington, meanwhile, became an immediate dual-threat contributor in Washington and gave his new team the stronger realized return.

Minnesota traded the 18th pick in the 1981 draft to Baltimore for two second-rounders and a fifth-rounder, selecting Mardye McDole, Jarvis Redwine, and Wendell Ray. The quantity did not translate into comparable NFL value. Baltimore used No. 18 on Donnell Thompson, who became an 11-year Colt, started 143 games, and provided the durable return that decides the trade.

Baltimore traded defensive tackle Jim Krahl to San Francisco on September 23, 1980 for a 1981 tenth-round pick. Krahl appeared in two games for the 49ers without a start, so the return was small. The Colts used No. 256 on linebacker Greg Gerken, who did not play an NFL regular-season game. San Francisco gets a narrow win because it received the only measurable NFL contribution.

Baltimore traded guard Ron Baker to Philadelphia on August 26, 1980 for the 1981 eighth-round pick used on defensive end Hosea Taylor. Taylor gave the Colts 20 games and seven starts across two seasons, including six starts and two sacks as a rookie. Baker became a Philadelphia line fixture, starting 106 games for the Eagles from 1980 through 1988. The long-term gap strongly favors Philadelphia.

Atlanta's return was a conditional 1981 tenth-round pick, but the condition was not satisfied and the choice was never exercised. The Falcons therefore received no draft value from moving Brian Cabral. Because the player also failed to produce a Colts regular-season return, Atlanta did not surrender meaningful realized value either.

Denver acquired Don Hardeman from Baltimore for a 1980 twelfth-round pick but released him before the regular season. The Broncos therefore received no game value from the transaction. Because Baltimore used the resulting No. 324 pick on Marvin Sims, who made the roster and played in 32 games over two seasons, Denver's side earns a D.

Detroit Lions received Stan White from Indianapolis Colts. Stan White became a three-year Detroit starter and played 41 games with 41 starts from 1980 through 1982, giving the Lions extensive direct value from the transaction. That outcome supports a A- grade for Detroit Lions when the trade is measured by the football value actually realized after the exchange.

The Colts acquired Mark Bailey from Kansas City for a 1980 fifth-round pick, No. 114. Kansas City used that selection on wide receiver Carlos Carson, who became a two-time Pro Bowler, produced 6,360 receiving yards for the Chiefs and later entered the club's Hall of Honor. Bailey did not provide Indianapolis with anything close to that level of service. Turning a fifth-round return into a long-term featured receiver gives Kansas City a decisive win.

Dallas acquired defensive lineman John Dutton for its first- and second-round picks in 1980. Dutton became a long-term piece of the Cowboys defense and remained with the club through 1987, giving Dallas years of starting value from an established player. That sustained contribution outweighed the two draft choices Baltimore ultimately used on Derrick Hatchett and Tim Foley.

Denver received Baltimore's 1980 eighth-round pick, No. 197, and used it on Don Coleman. Coleman did not develop into meaningful regular-season value for the Broncos. Since Bucky Dilts immediately handled the Colts' punting job for all 16 games in 1979, Denver ended up with the weaker direct return and receives a D+.

Tampa Bay acquired linebacker Calvin O'Neal from the Baltimore Colts for a conditional 1980 twelfth-round choice. O'Neal never appeared in a regular-season game for the Buccaneers, and Tampa Bay ultimately exercised its own twelfth-round selection on Gene Coleman, showing the conditional pick did not convey to the Colts. Neither franchise realized regular-season value from the exchange, so the hindsight result is an Even Trade at D-minus for both sides.

Indianapolis moved from No. 72 to No. 69 in the 1979 third round, sending Houston the No. 72 selection plus No. 171 in the seventh round. The Colts used No. 69 on Kim Anderson, who played 56 NFL games with 12 starts for Indianapolis. Houston used No. 72 on Kenny King, who later became valuable enough to headline a significant trade with the Raiders, while No. 171 Tim Ries added little. The Oilers hold a narrow edge.

Detroit traded veteran quarterback Greg Landry to Baltimore for three draft choices: a 1979 fourth, a 1979 fifth and a 1980 third. The Lions' most useful return became tight end Ulysses Norris, who spent five seasons with Detroit and started 15 games in 1983. The package supplied useful roster depth without producing a star.

Buffalo sent Dwight Harrison to the Colts in August 1978 and received a 1979 sixth-round pick, No. 141, plus cash. The draft choice became Mike Burrow, giving the Bills a traceable piece of future roster value in addition to the cash return. Buffalo's conversion of a veteran into multiple forms of compensation supports a B against the Colts' C+.

Baltimore acquired Joe Washington and a 1979 fifth-round pick from San Diego. Washington immediately rushed for a career-high 958 yards in 1978, then led the NFL with 82 receptions in 1979 while adding 884 rushing yards. The fifth-round asset later helped Baltimore acquire quarterback Greg Landry, giving the Colts both high-end immediate production and additional transaction value.

Baltimore acquired Washington's 1979 sixth-round selection, No. 150, and used it on Jimmy Moore. Moore did not appear in an NFL regular-season game, leaving the Colts without meaningful realized player value from the pick. Washington received wide receiver Ricky Thompson, who remained with the club for four seasons and supplied the transaction's only sustained roster contribution.

Minnesota acquired Frank Myers from the Colts in August 1978 for a 1979 eighth-round pick, No. 207. The Colts used that selection on defensive back Nesby Glasgow, who went on to a 14-season NFL career with 205 games, 145 starts, and 15 interceptions. Myers did not create comparable Minnesota value, so the late-round pick became a decisive long-term win for the Colts.

Baltimore acquired running back Don Hardeman from Tampa Bay and received two seasons of backfield work. Hardeman rushed for 244 yards in 1978 and 292 in 1979, giving the Colts some useful production. Tampa Bay, however, turned the draft compensation into Jerry Eckwood, whose larger multi-year role and broader offensive contribution gave the Buccaneers the stronger return.

Baltimore acquired wide receiver Mike Siani and a 1979 third-round pick for Raymond Chester and a 1979 second-rounder. Siani gave the Colts three seasons, and the draft choice retained value before being moved to Houston. The Colts received legitimate pieces, but neither matched Chester’s impact after his return to Oakland.

Detroit acquired wide receiver Freddie Scott and Baltimore’s 1978 fourth-round pick, No. 107, for defensive tackle Herb Orvis. The Lions used the selection on Homer Elias, who played seven seasons for Detroit and started 87 of 96 games. Elias’s sustained offensive-line work, combined with Scott, gave Detroit a substantially stronger return than Baltimore received.

Baltimore acquired Hall of Fame linebacker Willie Lanier, but Lanier never played a regular-season game for the Colts. He announced his retirement in July 1978, three months after the trade, so Baltimore received no on-field return from the veteran acquisition. The hindsight grade is C, with the overall verdict recorded as Even Trade.

Green Bay sent veteran defensive end Alden Roche to Baltimore on September 6, 1977 for a conditional 1978 seventh-round choice. Indianapolis' official Colts history marks that pick with an asterisk identifying a trade canceled by an unmet condition, so Green Bay never received the selection. Roche was released by Baltimore six days later, leaving the Packers without a realized return but also without surrendering meaningful future value.

Baltimore sent quarterback Marty Domres to San Francisco for cash and a future fifth-round pick that became No. 117 Frank Myers in 1978. Myers did not become a Colts fixture, but Baltimore later moved him to Minnesota for another draft choice. The Colts preserved useful asset value while Domres made only five appearances for San Francisco.

Baltimore acquired quarterback Bill Troup from Philadelphia on April 2, 1976 for veteran tackle Dennis Nelson. The Colts' own transaction history and Philadelphia's 1976 media guide both describe the deal as Troup for Nelson, with no draft pick attached. Troup became Baltimore's long-term backup and started 11 games in 1978 when Bert Jones was unavailable.

Baltimore sent defensive back Mike Washington to expansion Tampa Bay for a 1976 third-round choice and cash. The Colts used the selection on Ron Lee, but Washington became a foundational Buccaneer, playing 100 games with 97 starts and intercepting 28 passes. Baltimore received legitimate consideration, yet Tampa Bay obtained the far more valuable long-term contributor.

Baltimore acquired veteran center Forrest Blue plus the return of its 1976 15th- and 16th-round choices. Contemporary team records describe San Francisco's compensation as a 1978 third-round pick, later used on Ernie Hughes; a later Colts listing also mentions a 1977 second, but its conditional status is unresolved. Blue gave Baltimore veteran line help, while Hughes became a useful 49ers starter. The returns were comparable.

Baltimore acquired Howard Stevens from New Orleans for a 1977 fifth-round pick and received three seasons of useful return work. Stevens handled 109 punt returns for 1,012 yards with the Colts and added substantial kickoff-return production, especially in 1976. New Orleans used the No. 136 selection on Dave Hubbard, whose NFL career lasted only five games. Baltimore received the clearly stronger result.

Baltimore agreed in August 1975 to send tackle Dennis Nelson to Washington for a multi-pick package, but Nelson never reported to the Redskins. Contemporary Philadelphia material and later transaction records show that the deal was negated, Nelson's rights returned to the Colts, and he sat out the 1975 season. The listed draft choices therefore were not completed trade proceeds.

Baltimore sent rookie receiver Dave Hazel to Minnesota in 1975 for a 1976 eighth-round draft choice. Colts historical material places the move on July 29, while Hazel had entered the league as Baltimore's 11th-round selection earlier that year. The exact eighth-round pick is not identified, and Hazel did not develop into a notable NFL contributor, leaving a low-impact exchange.

Baltimore sent tight end Ron Mayo to San Diego on July 29, 1975, and received a sixth-round selection in the 1976 draft. Chargers club records consistently identify the compensation as a sixth-round pick, resolving the earlier round uncertainty. Mayo did not appear in a regular-season game for San Diego, while the exact player ultimately produced by Baltimore’s pick remains unidentified, leaving little demonstrated value on either side.

Buffalo Bills: Buffalo converted the pick into Darnell Powell, but his Bills return was limited. The late-round selection did not produce comparable value to the veteran linebacker sent away. The C- grade reflects only value tied directly to this transaction, including production or draft value the club itself controlled. Against Indianapolis Colts, that supported return leads to the final verdict of Indianapolis Colts Win.

Baltimore acquired return specialist Herb Mul-Key from Washington for a 1977 fourth-round selection, but Mul-Key never produced a regular-season contribution for the Colts. Washington later packaged that pick with Charley Harraway's rights for tight end Marv Fleming, who also failed to make Washington's roster. Neither branch of the exchange generated durable team-specific football value.

New York acquired reserve tight end Larry Christoff from Baltimore on May 2, 1975 in exchange for the NFL rights to defensive back Jim Sims. Official Colts records, a contemporary UPI report and transaction logs all describe a direct Christoff-for-Sims-rights swap, so the legacy undisclosed-consideration placeholders are removed.

Baltimore acquired the NFL rights to tackle Ed George from Pittsburgh for 1976 second- and fourth-round selections. George gave the Colts 12 games and two starts in 1975, so Baltimore received real short-term help. Pittsburgh used the premium pick on quarterback Mike Kruczek, who went 6-0 as a rookie starter, making the Steelers’ return stronger overall.

Baltimore and San Francisco swapped very late draft capital on January 29, 1975. The Colts received 1975 selections used on Mike Evavold at No. 399 and Mike Bengard at No. 426, while the 49ers received 1976 15th- and 16th-round choices, including No. 449 Mike Fuhrman. None of the identified selections developed into a consequential NFL contributor, leaving Baltimore without a durable payoff from its side of the exchange.

Baltimore sent Cotton Speyrer and Glenn Ressler to Washington for a 1975 twelfth-round choice used on Brad Storm and a 1976 sixteenth-round choice used on Mike Fuhrman. Neither side turned the exchange into lasting direct value: Ressler’s NFL career had already ended, Speyrer did not become a Washington regular, and neither Colts pick produced an NFL career.

The Raiders and Colts completed a four-pick swap in January 1975. Indianapolis received 1975 sixteenth-round No. 416 Robert Smith and seventeenth-round No. 440 Frank Russell, while the Raiders received 1976 thirteenth-round No. 367 Craig Crnick and seventeenth-round No. 478 Buddy Tate. With all four selections late and no decisive payoff, the exchange grades evenly.

Baltimore traded defensive lineman Jim Bailey to the New York Jets on January 28, 1975, for a fourth-round selection in that spring’s draft. The Colts used the pick at No. 93 on Paul Linford, who did not produce regular-season value for Baltimore. Bailey, by contrast, appeared in all 14 games for the Jets in 1975 and started eight, giving New York the clearly better immediate return.

Chicago acquired the NFL rights to Greg Latta and Noah Jackson in two same-day deals with Baltimore, while also receiving the Colts’ 1976 seventh-round selection. Latta played five seasons for Chicago and Jackson became a long-term starting guard. Baltimore received four selections that produced Dave Pear, Steve Joachim, Derrel Luce and Sanders Shiver, making this a productive exchange for both clubs but a slight Bears win.

Atlanta sent George Kunz and the No. 3 pick to Baltimore for the No. 1 selection and a sixth-round choice, then drafted Steve Bartkowski first overall and Fulton Kuykendall later in the draft. Bartkowski became the Falcons' long-term starting quarterback and Kuykendall a durable linebacker. Baltimore received an elite tackle in Kunz plus Ken Huff at No. 3.

Baltimore acquired tight end Ron Mayo from Houston on September 12, 1974 for the 1975 tenth-round pick at No. 246. Mayo appeared in nine games for the Colts that season without a start and contributed mainly on special teams. Houston used the returned selection on Alan Pringle, who did not become a notable NFL contributor.

Denver Broncos received Tom Drougas from Indianapolis Colts. Tom Drougas appeared in four Broncos games before moving to Kansas City later in 1974, giving Denver a small but tangible direct return. That realized return supports a C- grade for Denver Broncos. The final verdict is Denver Broncos Win, based on the regular-season service and draft value each club actually received after the exchange.

Baltimore acquired tackle Tom Drougas from New Orleans for a future fourth-round pick, with contemporary material identifying it as a 1975 selection while later accounts differ on the year. The Colts moved Drougas to Denver only six days later for an eighth-round choice. That quick downgrade left Baltimore with less value than it paid and gives New Orleans the stronger side.

Baltimore sent Ted Hendricks and a 1975 second-round choice to Green Bay for linebacker Tom MacLeod and the 1975 eighth-round pick that became Mario Cage. Hendricks gave the Packers only one season before leaving for Oakland, but that season was exceptional: he earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Baltimore's return did not approach that peak value, leaving Green Bay ahead despite the short tenure.

Houston acquired veteran center Fred Hoaglin, who appeared in 28 games across the next two seasons for the Oilers. Baltimore received the 1975 tenth-round pick used on Alan Pringle, whose NFL career consisted of one game with Detroit rather than meaningful Colts production. The Oilers received usable offensive-line depth for two seasons, while the draft return produced essentially no direct value for Baltimore. That modest but clear production edge decides the trade.

Baltimore sent veteran tight end Tom Mitchell to San Francisco in July 1974 and received three selections in the 1975 draft: No. 53 Mike Washington, No. 105 Roosevelt Leaks and No. 157 Kim Jones. Washington became a long-time NFL defensive back, while Leaks rushed for more than 2,400 career yards. The three-pick return gave Baltimore substantial depth and long-term player value.

Baltimore sent defensive end Roy Hilton to New York on June 11, 1974, for running back Joe Orduna and a 1975 sixth-round pick that became Don Westbrook. Hilton immediately started all 14 games for the Giants in 1974. Orduna had only a tiny offensive role for the Colts, and Westbrook did not become a meaningful Baltimore contributor, giving New York the stronger return.

Baltimore acquired defensive back Mike Simpson from San Francisco for a 1975 seventh-round choice. Simpson was released in September before giving the Colts meaningful regular-season value. San Francisco retained a usable draft asset and later included that choice in the Tom Mitchell transaction before it eventually returned to Baltimore. The low acquisition cost limits the damage, but the Colts received too little from Simpson to match the value the 49ers preserved.

Indianapolis received a sixth-round choice that became Danny Rhodes plus cash, while New England acquired quarterback Jack Mildren. Rhodes appeared in 14 games as a rookie, and Mildren never developed into a long-term answer for the Patriots. Neither return became a franchise-changing piece, but the Colts extracted both draft capital and cash from a player who provided New England limited on-field value.

Washington acquired guard Cornelius Johnson and a 1975 seventeenth-round selection from Baltimore for running back George Nock and 1974 seventeenth-round No. 436 Buzzy Lewis. Nock never became a Colts contributor, while the late-round assets and Johnson produced little durable separation. The modest, low-leverage returns support an even grade once the distinct Ed Mooney transaction is kept separate.

Denver acquired linebacker Ray May from Baltimore on October 3, 1973 for 1974 third- and eighth-round picks. May became a useful Broncos starter for three seasons, but Baltimore used the third-rounder on guard Robert Pratt, who developed into a long-term Colts lineman with 170 career games. Denver received solid value; Pratt's sustained impact gives Baltimore the stronger return.

Miami acquired Don Nottingham and a 1974 sixth-round pick from Baltimore for Hubert Ginn on October 2, 1973. Nottingham became a five-season Dolphins contributor and scored 25 rushing touchdowns from 1974 through 1977, while the pick became Randy Crowder. Ginn played only nine games for Baltimore before returning to Miami, producing a decisive Dolphins win.

Baltimore acquired Ed Mooney from Detroit for its 1974 fifth-round selection, No. 109. Mooney appeared in 13 games and started three for the Colts before being traded again the next January. Detroit flipped the pick to Atlanta for Willie Germany, who appeared in six Lions games. Both sides received short-term value, but Baltimore’s player contribution and later return give it the edge.

Denver acquired linebacker Bill Laskey from Baltimore for a 1974 seventh-round pick that became Dan Dickel. Laskey gave the Broncos 25 games and 21 starts over 1973 and 1974, including two interceptions in his first Denver season. Dickel also became useful, playing every game for the Colts from 1974 through 1977 as a reserve linebacker and special-teams contributor. Denver wins narrowly because its return carried the larger starting role.

Baltimore acquired defensive tackle John Gordon from Detroit on August 1, 1973 for a 1974 tenth-round selection. Gordon had appeared in two NFL games for Detroit in 1972 and did not record another regular-season appearance after the trade. Detroit therefore recovered future draft capital for a player who provided Baltimore no measurable regular-season production.

Detroit acquired Jim O'Brien from Baltimore for the 1974 fourth-round choice that became No. 84 Tony Bell. O'Brien handled the Lions' kicking duties in 1973, appearing in ten games and scoring 38 points. Bell never produced a regular-season NFL return for the Colts, so Detroit received the only meaningful documented football value from the transaction.

Minnesota acquired veteran cornerback Charlie Stukes from the Baltimore Colts on July 23, 1973, for a 1974 fifth-round pick that became No. 129 and Doug Nettles. Five weeks later, Minnesota traded Stukes to the Rams for pick No. 128. That quick resale effectively improved the Vikings’ draft position while Baltimore received a future multi-year defensive back.

Buffalo Bills: Mosier did not provide Buffalo regular-season value, leaving the Bills without a meaningful return from the acquired player. The F grade reflects only value tied directly to this transaction, including production or draft value the club itself controlled. Against Indianapolis Colts, that supported return leads to the final verdict of Indianapolis Colts Win.

Baltimore received tight end Raymond Chester from Oakland in the July 16, 1973 exchange. Chester delivered five productive Colts seasons and helped the franchise reach three division championships, giving Baltimore substantial sustained value from the trade. The A- grade reflects that multi-season impact and supports the Indianapolis/Baltimore Colts Win verdict over a Raiders return that was useful but less valuable.

Baltimore acquired veteran guard Elmer Collett from San Francisco in June 1973 for a 1975 third-round draft choice. Collett immediately started every game for the Colts in 1973 and gave a rebuilding offense a dependable veteran presence. The 49ers received future draft value, but the transaction was essentially a straightforward veteran-for-pick exchange.

Baltimore acquired veteran lineman Joe Schmiesing from Detroit on June 14, 1973 for a future fourth-round choice. Schmiesing started 11 games for the Colts that season, while Detroit later returned the trade consideration to Baltimore in the Jim O'Brien transaction. Both clubs extracted useful value from the same asset chain, supporting an even B/B result.

Baltimore sent Tom Nowatzke to Houston in March 1973 and received a 1974 fourteenth-round selection in return. Colts history supports the future-pick compensation, but the eventual player tied to that choice cannot be established confidently, so the asset remains unidentified. Nowatzke retired in August before appearing in a regular-season game for Houston, while Baltimore at least retained a future draft asset from a veteran nearing the end of his career.

Baltimore sent veteran defensive tackle Fred Miller to Washington in February 1973 and received a 1974 tenth-round draft choice. Colts history supports the round and year of the return, but the eventual player tied to that selection cannot be established confidently. Miller retired before appearing in a regular-season game for Washington, leaving Baltimore with a future draft asset from a veteran whose playing career had effectively ended.

Baltimore sent veteran lineman Dan Sullivan to Oakland for a future draft choice on February 7, 1973. Sullivan retired before playing for the Raiders, and Colts historical records state that the transaction was negated. Oakland received no regular-season contribution and Baltimore did not retain a completed draft return, leaving both clubs without meaningful lasting value.

Baltimore sent veteran defensive back Jerry Logan to Los Angeles for the draft choice later identified as the 1974 tenth-round selection used on Glenn Ellis. Logan retired in July 1973 without appearing in a regular-season game for the Rams. Even a modest late-round asset therefore gave the Colts the only realized value and the clear advantage.

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.

Baltimore acquired the No. 2 pick in the 1973 draft from New Orleans and used it on quarterback Bert Jones, sending defensive lineman Billy Newsome and the No. 86 selection, Jim Merlo, to the Saints. Jones became the 1976 NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year and led Baltimore's resurgence. The Saints received useful pieces, but nothing close to a franchise quarterback at his peak.

Baltimore sent center Bill Curry to Houston for guard Tom Regner and the 1973 third-round pick used on fullback Bill Olds. Curry's Oilers stint ended after only four games in 1973, while Olds developed into a useful Colts starter and offensive contributor, including 14 starts in 1975. Regner added little in Baltimore, but the pick outcome created enough value for a clear Colts win.

Baltimore sent running back Norm Bulaich to Philadelphia for a 1973 fourth-round selection and a 1974 second-round choice. The Colts used those picks on Gery Palmer and Ed Shuttlesworth, but neither produced comparable Baltimore value. Bulaich immediately became a significant Eagles contributor, combining rushing and receiving work across the 1973 season and remaining with Philadelphia in 1974.

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 San Diego's 1973 eighth-round pick, No. 189, and used it on defensive back Ray Oldham in exchange for veteran Tom Matte. Oldham became a multi-season Colts contributor with meaningful starting time, while Matte did not provide San Diego regular-season value after the transaction. The conversion of a retiring veteran into years of defensive depth makes this a clear Colts win.

San Diego acquired Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas from Baltimore on January 22, 1973 for future considerations that later records describe as cash, commonly reported as $150,000. Unitas played five games with four starts for the Chargers, going 1-3 while throwing for 471 yards, three touchdowns and seven interceptions. He was replaced by rookie Dan Fouts and retired after the season, making the acquisition far more important historically than competitively.

Cincinnati acquired guard John Shinners from Baltimore on October 24, 1972 for a 1973 fourth-round pick, No. 93 overall. Shinners became a useful five-season Bengal, appearing in 66 games and starting 32. Baltimore later sent the pick to Cleveland for kicker George Hunt, who scored 70 points for the Colts in 1973. Cincinnati received the stronger long-term return.

Denver Broncos and Baltimore Colts exchanged 1973 seventh round pick (#166-John Grant) for John Mosier. Denver turned a reserve tight end into John Grant, who played 99 games for the Broncos from 1973 through 1979 and started 30. A seventh-round choice becoming a seven-season defensive contributor is a strong late-round outcome. In hindsight, Denver Broncos 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.

Baltimore acquired defensive tackle Chuck Hinton from the Jets on September 7, 1972 for a 1973 tenth-round choice. Hinton played 13 games and started six for the Colts that season. New York used pick No. 243 on linebacker Joe Carbone, who was released before playing a regular-season game for the Jets. Baltimore therefore received the only meaningful NFL contribution from the exchange.

Baltimore sent defensive back Leonard Dunlap to San Diego on September 4, 1972 for the Chargers' 1973 fourth-round selection. The Colts used that pick, No. 85, on receiver Ollie Smith. San Diego received immediate secondary depth from Dunlap, but his Chargers impact was not substantial enough to outweigh Baltimore's clean conversion of the veteran into a defined mid-round asset.

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 quarterback Marty Domres from San Diego in August 1972 for tight end John Andrews and the 1973 first-round pick Baltimore had obtained from Washington. San Diego used that selection at No. 25 on Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers, while Domres became the Colts’ primary starter during a turbulent 1972 season.

The Colts sold Lloyd Edwards and William West to Oakland for cash. Indianapolis did not receive a player or draft asset, but the cash return was the full consideration in a modest transaction involving two players who did not become meaningful long-term contributors for the Raiders. That outcome supports a C grade for Indianapolis Colts within the final Even Trade verdict.

The Colts paid cash for Lloyd Edwards and Bill West on August 4, 1972, then sold both players to Oakland for cash the following day. That rapid resale meant Indianapolis received almost no lasting football contribution from either player. The C grade reflects the limited but recoverable nature of the transaction and supports an Even Trade verdict.

Baltimore sent George Wright to San Diego and received a package that included the 1972 eighth-round pick used on Al Qualls, a 1973 fourth-round pick used on Ollie Smith, a 1973 eighth-round pick used on Ray Oldham, and other compensation described incompletely in the surviving record. The documented return gave Baltimore multiple assets, but the uncertain details and modest downstream results limit any clear separation.

Baltimore sent defensive back Tom Curtis to Los Angeles and received a 1973 seventh-round choice whose eventual selection is not securely identified. The Colts still converted a reserve player into usable future draft capital, while Curtis never delivered regular-season value for the Rams. The modest value of the pick keeps Baltimore's advantage limited, but it was more than Los Angeles ultimately received from the player.

Baltimore sent offensive lineman John Williams to the Los Angeles Rams before the 1972 season and received the Rams’ 1974 first-round draft choice. Baltimore eventually used that pick at No. 24 on wide receiver Roger Carr, creating a long-term offensive return from a veteran lineman who had played out his option.

Baltimore sent Eldridge Dickey to Kansas City on July 23, 1972, for the Chiefs' 1973 third-round pick, later No. 67 overall. The Colts then sent that selection to Cleveland for center Fred Hoaglin; Cleveland used No. 67 on Bob Crum. Dickey never appeared in another NFL game, while Hoaglin played all 14 games for Baltimore in 1973, giving the Colts the better return.

Baltimore sent defensive tackle George Wright to San Diego and received the 1972 fourth-round pick used on Eric Allen plus the eighth-round pick used on Al Qualls. Both selections became concrete Colts draft assets, while Wright's Chargers stay was brief. San Diego later recovered a 1973 fifth-round choice by moving him to Cleveland, but Baltimore still created the stronger return from the original exchange.

Baltimore acquired guard John Shinners from New Orleans in January 1972 for defensive back Jim Duncan, the 1972 fifth-round choice used on Bob Davies and the 1973 sixth-round choice later associated with Doug Kingsriter. Shinners remained with the Colts only until October before Baltimore traded him again, giving the club some recoverable value but not a lasting starter from the original exchange.

Baltimore acquired Eldridge Dickey from Oakland on January 28, 1972 for the Colts' third-round pick, No. 74. Dickey never appeared in a regular-season game for Baltimore. Oakland immediately reused the selection in a draft-day trade with New Orleans to move from No. 39 to No. 33, converting a player leaving its plans into useful draft leverage.

Baltimore sent defensive back and returner Ron Gardin to New England for the fifth-round choice that became No. 115 in the 1972 draft, where the Colts selected Don Croft. Gardin supplied the Patriots with immediate 1971 playing time, while Croft never produced regular-season value for Baltimore. That modest but real contribution gives New England the better side of a small trade.

Baltimore acquired linebacker Marty Schottenheimer from Pittsburgh on August 27, 1971 for a conditional 1972 tenth-round draft choice. The Colts' official trade history marks the choice with the notation for a transaction canceled by an unmet condition. Schottenheimer never appeared in a regular-season game for Baltimore, so the Colts received only preseason roster rights while retaining the conditional pick.

Green Bay kept defensive tackle Jim DeLisle after Baltimore withdrew its claim in exchange for a 1972 ninth-round selection, No. 215 overall. The Colts used that pick on Gary Hambell, but it did not produce meaningful Baltimore regular-season value. DeLisle appeared in nine games for the 1971 Packers, giving Green Bay the clearer return from an unusual waiver-rights transaction.

Washington acquired proven receiver Roy Jefferson plus ninth-round selections in 1973 and 1974, sending Baltimore rookie Cotton Speyrer and its 1973 first-round choice. Jefferson immediately became Washington’s leading receiver and remained productive for six seasons, including the 1972 Super Bowl run. Baltimore received flashes from Speyrer and converted the first-rounder into later trade value, but never matched Jefferson’s sustained impact.

Baltimore traded linebacker Bob Grant to Washington in July 1971 and received second- and seventh-round selections in the 1972 draft. The Colts used those picks on wide receiver Glenn Doughty at No. 47 and defensive end John Sykes at No. 169. Doughty developed into a useful receiver and returner, giving Baltimore the most durable team-specific contribution from the exchange.

Oakland acquired Tom Maxwell plus Baltimore’s 1972 fourth- and seventh-round selections, sending Bill Laskey and a 1972 second-round pick to the Colts. The fourth-rounder became Dave Dalby, who spent 14 seasons with the Raiders, started more than 120 games and won three Super Bowls. Baltimore used its second-rounder on Jack Mildren, but that return could not match Dalby’s extraordinary longevity and championship value.

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.

Pittsburgh sent star receiver Roy Jefferson to Baltimore for Willie Richardson and a 1971 fourth-round pick. Richardson never played a regular-season game for the Steelers and was soon moved again, but the fourth-rounder became Dwight White, a founding member of the Steel Curtain and four-time Super Bowl champion. Jefferson helped Baltimore win Super Bowl V, so the Colts received real championship value even though Pittsburgh won the longer arc.

Baltimore sent Preston Pearson and Ocie Austin to Pittsburgh for linebacker Ray May and the 1971 twelfth-round pick later used on Bob Wuensch. May gave the Colts veteran depth and the pick added another roster opportunity, but neither return matched Pearson's later value. Pearson became a starting back, returner and versatile offensive piece during Pittsburgh's rise into a championship club.

Baltimore sent linebacker Dennis Gaubatz to Washington for defensive lineman Frank Bosch and the 1970 fourth-round pick used on Steve Smear. Bosch did not survive the Colts’ final cuts and returned to Washington on waivers, while Smear chose the CFL and never played for Baltimore. Gaubatz retired before providing Washington regular-season value. The Colts acquired two assets, but neither produced an NFL return, leaving the deal effectively even.

John Campbell moved from Pittsburgh to Baltimore on November 1, 1969, with historical transaction listings showing cash going to the Steelers while noting the move may have operated through waivers. Campbell gave the Colts usable roster depth, whereas Pittsburgh's visible return ended with the cash consideration. Baltimore therefore earns a narrow win with appropriately cautious confidence.

Baltimore traded linebacker Ron Porter to Philadelphia for the 1970 third-round pick used on Ara Person. Person never played a regular-season game for the Colts and later appeared in only four NFL games with St. Louis. Porter, meanwhile, remained with Philadelphia through 1972 and contributed as a regular defender. The pick was real value in theory, but Baltimore failed to convert it into production.

Green Bay traded longtime defensive tackle Ron Kostelnik to Baltimore for a 1970 fourth-round pick, No. 96 overall, later used on kicker Skip Butler. Kostelnik played only 10 games for the Colts before retiring in 1970, while the Packers converted a veteran nearing retirement into mid-round draft capital. Butler never became Green Bay’s kicker, but obtaining the selection still gave the Packers the better asset-management result.

Atlanta Falcons received Gail Cogdill and 1970 sixth round pick (selection not identified) in the 1969-07-28 exchange involving Indianapolis/Baltimore Colts. Cogdill became a regular part of Atlanta's passing game across the 1969 and 1970 seasons, giving the Falcons a useful veteran receiver beyond the immediate transaction. That realized return supports a B- grade for Atlanta Falcons. The overall verdict is Atlanta Falcons Win, with the grade based on direct value created from this transaction.

Baltimore traded defensive back Jim Dillard to Minnesota in June 1969 for a 1970 sixth-round draft choice. Colts historical material supports the round-level compensation, while the exact selection should not be overstated. Dillard joined a Vikings team that would reach Super Bowl IV, but his Minnesota tenure was brief, and the Colts' later pick outcome is not securely traceable.

Atlanta Falcons received 1969 fourth round pick (#103-Dickie Lyons) and 1969 fifth round pick (#127-Tony Pleviak). Atlanta turned veteran lineman Dan Grimm into two 1969 draft choices, giving the Falcons multiple chances to add roster value. The picks became the No. 103 and No. 127 selections. Neither choice became a major star, but the two-asset return was more useful than the limited long-term value Indianapolis obtained from Grimm after the deal. That stronger outcome supports a B+ grade for Atlanta Falcons.

Baltimore traded veteran defensive lineman Andy Stynchula to Dallas on December 18, 1968, for receiver Sims Stokes and a 1969 fifth-round pick, No. 127. Stokes never played a regular-season game for the Colts, but Baltimore later packaged the acquired pick with another selection to obtain guard Dan Grimm from Atlanta. Dallas received only a brief Stynchula tenure, so the Colts' reusable draft capital gives them the edge.

Atlanta Falcons received Phil Sobocinski. The locked Wave 209 research supports the C grade after comparing the direct production and draft value attributable to this transaction. The evaluation excludes unrelated later moves and unsupported assumptions. Against Indianapolis Colts, that documented return supports the final verdict of Indianapolis Colts Win.

Baltimore sent running back Tony Lorick to New Orleans for the Saints' 1969 second-round pick. The choice became Ted Hendricks at No. 33, a future Hall of Fame linebacker who played 215 consecutive games, reached eight Pro Bowls and helped the Colts win Super Bowl V. Lorick's Saints career lasted two seasons and produced only limited offensive value, creating a massive imbalance.

Detroit acquired veteran defensive back Jim Welch from Baltimore for cash shortly before the 1968 season. Welch appeared in all 14 Lions games that year, providing one season of depth, while the Colts received no player or draft pick that can be traced to an on-field return from the transaction. The surviving record does not establish enough separation to force a winner, so the deal remains an Even Trade with C+ grades.

Baltimore acquired Earl Morrall from the Giants in August 1968, with tight end Butch Wilson becoming the final return to New York. Morrall immediately replaced an injured Johnny Unitas, led the Colts to a 13-1 record and won NFL MVP honors before helping the franchise win Super Bowl V two years later. Wilson never approached that impact, making Baltimore the overwhelming winner.

Baltimore sent linebacker/tight end Barry Brown to the Giants for defensive back and Olympic sprint champion Henry Carr on June 12, 1968. Brown appeared in 12 games for New York that season before later continuing his career in Boston. Carr did not produce a regular-season appearance for Baltimore. The return was modest for the Giants, but it was still more tangible than what the Colts realized from Carr.

Baltimore moved Bob Wade to Pittsburgh with compensation conditioned on whether Wade made the Steelers roster. The surviving transaction record confirms the conditional 1969 draft consideration but does not securely identify a downstream selection that can be credited to the Colts. Without a documented pick outcome or a major player return, Baltimore's side remains modest and uncertain.

Baltimore and Philadelphia exchanged veteran multipurpose players before the 1968 season, with Timmy Brown going to the Colts and Alvin Haymond to the Eagles. Brown played 11 games as a reserve for a Baltimore team that reached Super Bowl III. Haymond started nine games for Philadelphia, intercepted a pass and scored on both punt and kickoff returns before later bringing the Eagles additional trade value. Philadelphia gets the slight edge.

Pittsburgh acquired Bob Wade from Baltimore for Ed Brown, with a later condition adding a 1969 draft pick if Wade made the Steelers roster. Wade appeared in all 14 games and started 11 in 1968, so the condition was met, although the exact resulting selection remains unidentified. With useful but limited returns on both sides, the exchange stays an even C/C trade.

On 1967-10-04, Detroit Lions received 1968 sixth round pick (selection not identified), while Indianapolis Colts received Jim Todd. The final verdict is Even Trade, with Detroit Lions graded C and Indianapolis Colts 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.

Baltimore traded defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema to New York on September 22, 1967, for the 1968 fifth-round pick used on Paul Elzey. Lurtsema became a multi-year Giants starter, appearing in 62 games and starting 57 from 1967 through 1971. Elzey did not create comparable Colts value, so New York turned a fifth-round cost into a durable starting defender.

Baltimore sent running back Jerry Allen to Washington in August 1967 for a 1968 tenth-round pick and a 1969 fourth-round pick. The first became defensive back Ocie Austin, who played 28 games for the Colts over two seasons; the later choice became Jacky Stewart. Baltimore received usable depth and two selections, but Allen immediately became a Washington starter and generated the stronger direct production.

New Orleans sent Bill Curry, the No. 1 overall pick, a 1967 third-round pick and a 1969 seventh-rounder to Baltimore for quarterback Gary Cuozzo, Buford Allison and a 1967 seventeenth-round pick. Baltimore used No. 1 on Bubba Smith and also gained Curry, both future All-Pro-level starters on Super Bowl teams. Cuozzo lasted one Saints season before being traded again.

St. Louis acquired linebacker Mike Strofolino from Baltimore for the 1967 eighth-round selection that became No. 202 overall. Strofolino appeared in 23 regular-season games for the Cardinals from 1966 through 1968 and started five in his final St. Louis season. That modest three-year contribution gave the Cardinals tangible roster value from a late-round draft asset.

Atlanta acquired Lou Kirouac from Indianapolis for the 1967 sixth-round pick later used on Terry Southall. Kirouac played all 14 games for the Falcons in 1966 and handled substantial kicking work, while Southall never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. Atlanta received the only meaningful on-field return, making the Falcons the clear winner of an otherwise modest transaction.

On 1966-08-08, Detroit Lions received John McGuire, while Indianapolis Colts received 1967 sixth round pick (selection not identified). The final verdict is Even Trade, with Detroit Lions graded C and Indianapolis Colts 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.

Atlanta Falcons received 1967 sixth round pick (#151-Martine Bircher) in the exchange with Indianapolis Colts. The historical record shows how the player service and draft value developed after the deal, with the comparison favoring Indianapolis Colts. That result supports a D for Atlanta Falcons. The grade reflects the less valuable realized return and keeps the judgment proportional to the documented value produced by this transaction.

Baltimore received Bill Hunter and a 1967 ninth-round pick from Washington in exchange for Tom Carr, Ken Duke, Roland Rogers, and Dave Hayes. The exact ninth-round selection is not securely identified in the surviving record, and no downstream outcome clearly separates the clubs. Baltimore gained a player plus late draft capital, but the available evidence supports only a modest return.

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.

Baltimore sent Jim Carter to Pittsburgh and received the 1967 twelfth-round choice that became No. 298 Preston Pearson. Pearson played three seasons for the Colts before continuing a long 176-game NFL career, giving Baltimore meaningful value from an extremely late selection. Carter did not provide Pittsburgh with a comparable lasting return, so the Colts converted modest draft compensation into the stronger outcome.

New York acquired defensive back Wendell Harris from Baltimore in a straight player-for-player trade for defensive lineman Andy Stynchula. The deal was completed on February 16, 1966, not June 23 as the legacy row recorded. Harris played two seasons for the Giants, appearing in 27 games and intercepting two passes.

Pittsburgh acquired linebacker John Campbell from Baltimore on September 29, 1965, for veteran center Buzz Nutter. Campbell immediately started all 14 games for the Steelers and remained a substantial starter through 1968, while Nutter played 13 games with six starts in his final NFL season. The longevity gap gives Pittsburgh the stronger return from a straightforward veteran swap.

Baltimore traded Ralph Neely's NFL rights to Dallas on August 29, 1965 for Billy Lothridge and a 1966 fourth-round choice, No. 54. The Colts later used that pick on Rod Sherman. Dallas earns an A+ because Neely became one of the defining linemen of the franchise's rise. Baltimore received a player and a fourth-round pick, but the long-term disparity is too large to call the package competitive.

Detroit's return was much better than the old C- grade suggested. Joe Don Looney started nine games and scored six touchdowns in 1965, then the fifth-round pick acquired from Baltimore was routed to Dallas for Amos Marsh, who played 41 Lions games over three seasons. Dennis Gaubatz nevertheless became Baltimore's long-term middle linebacker and a 1968 NFL champion, preserving a narrow Colts win at B+ to B.

San Francisco acquired defensive lineman Dan LaRose from Baltimore for the 1966 seventh-round selection that became No. 105 Dave Ellis. LaRose appeared in five games for the 49ers during the 1965 season, providing the only regular-season NFL contribution directly produced by the exchange. Ellis never appeared in an NFL regular-season game, leaving Baltimore without comparable realized playing value from the acquired draft choice.

Baltimore's side of the recorded exchange is a 1966 fifth-round selection, while Los Angeles received Tom Gilburg. The surviving public draft trail does not securely identify the downstream player attached to Baltimore's pick, so the return should remain stated at the draft-asset level. That limitation prevents assigning unsupported production to the Colts and keeps the comparison confined to the consideration that can be documented.

Minnesota acquired the rights to tackle Larry Kramer from the Baltimore Colts on January 28, 1965, sending linebacker John Campbell and its 1966 eighth-round pick. That selection became No. 120 and was used on Jerry Allen. None of the pieces produced a major long-term advantage, leaving the exchange reasonably balanced in hindsight.

Baltimore acquired kicker-defensive end Lou Michaels and Pittsburgh's 1965 third-round pick for linebacker Bill Saul and defensive back Marv Woodson. Player transaction records place the completed trade on September 8, 1964, after Michaels missed Pittsburgh's final preseason game. Michaels became Baltimore's kicker for six seasons and the draft choice became Glenn Ressler, while Saul developed into a useful Steelers starter. The Colts received the stronger combined return.

Washington acquired veteran Jim Martin from Baltimore on September 8, 1964, sending the Colts a 1965 20th-round choice that became No. 273 Ray Johnson. Martin handled Washington's kicking duties for all 14 games in 1964 and scored 71 points, while Johnson never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. The return was short-lived but clearly tangible, supporting Washington's existing win with conservative grades.

The Baltimore Colts sent Andy Nelson and R.C. Owens to New York on August 25, 1964, receiving Joe Don Looney, Lou Kirouac and the Giants' 1965 sixth-round pick, No. 71, Bobby Felts. Nelson started nine games for New York and Owens contributed briefly, but Baltimore later converted Looney in a deal for linebacker Dennis Gaubatz, who became a multi-year Colts starter and 1968 NFL champion.

Baltimore and Dallas swapped defensive tackles in July 1964, with Guy Reese going to the Colts and Jim Colvin going to the Cowboys. Player histories place the exchange on July 12. Dallas earns a B+ and Baltimore a C. Colvin supplied multiple seasons of useful line play, while Reese did not create a comparable long-term Colts return. The player-for-player structure was balanced on paper, but the careers after the exchange were not.

The Colts traded guard Palmer Pyle to Minnesota in April 1964 for linebacker Steve Stonebreaker. Pyle spent the 1964 season with the Vikings, while Stonebreaker immediately became a regular for Baltimore, appearing in 14 games with 13 starts that year and ultimately logging 32 games and 19 starts for the Colts. Stonebreaker's stronger sustained role gives Baltimore the win.

Baltimore Colts received 1965 fourth round pick (#49-Marty Schottenheimer), while Washington Redskins received J.W. Lockett. Baltimore sent J.W. Lockett to Washington for the 1965 fourth-round choice that became No. 49 Marty Schottenheimer. Lockett played all 14 games for Washington in 1964, producing 175 rushing yards, 204 receiving yards and three touchdowns, while Schottenheimer signed with Buffalo rather than Baltimore. Washington received the clearer realized football value. From Baltimore Colts perspective, the grade is based on realized player or draft value that can actually be documented, not on an

Baltimore acquired veteran kicker Jim Martin from Detroit on September 3, 1963, for the 1964 tenth-round choice that became No. 134 Glenn Holton. Martin immediately scored 104 points for the Colts, making 24 field goals in 39 attempts and leading the NFL in field goals made. Holton was drafted by Detroit but never appeared in an NFL regular-season game, creating a decisive one-season value advantage for the Colts.

The legacy record lists Baltimore Colts receiving Raymond Berry and San Francisco 49ers receiving 1965 third round pick (#42-Jack Chapple), but part of that date, identity, or downstream attribution remains disputed in the surviving historical record. An official Colts historical ledger and draft reconstruction carry a 1965 third-round choice to San Francisco on a line labeled for Raymond Berry, yet official career history shows Berry never left Baltimore. The supportable historical fact is the recorded pick movement; the player label is internally inconsistent, so this verdict does not

Baltimore sent its 1964 third-round pick to Dallas for running back J.W. Lockett. Colts materials confirm the third-rounder went to the Cowboys and note that Dallas later dealt the selection, but surviving draft histories do not securely establish which player should be credited to this exact transaction. Lockett supplied Baltimore one season of modest production before moving on.

The 1962 Dick Bielski deal was a three-team exchange among Baltimore, Dallas and St. Louis. The Colts acquired Bielski from the Cowboys, Dallas received defensive back and punter Jerry Norton from the Cardinals, and St. Louis received Baltimore's 1963 third-round pick, later used on Mike Fracchia. Neither the Colts nor Cowboys produced a large long-term advantage from their direct football return.

The legacy record lists Baltimore Colts receiving Gary Glick and Washington Redskins receiving 1962 sixth round pick (probably #79-John Sutro), but part of that date, identity, or downstream attribution remains disputed in the surviving historical record. The Colts historical ledger records Baltimore sending a 1962 sixth-round choice to Washington for defensive back Gary Glick. Glick then appeared in 11 games for Baltimore in 1961 and intercepted four passes. The exact downstream identity of Washington draft asset remains conflicted, so Baltimore receives a modest edge for the player value

The legacy record lists Baltimore Colts receiving 1962 high draft pick (selection not identified) and Pittsburgh Steelers receiving John Sample / Johnny Sample, but part of that date, identity, or downstream attribution remains disputed in the surviving historical record. Johnny Sample clearly played for Pittsburgh beginning in 1961, while the Colts historical ledger associates his move with the 1963 second-round choice used on Butch Wilson. Surviving sources conflict sharply on the transaction date and therefore on the timing of that compensation. This verdict preserves the real player and

Baltimore traded defensive back Johnny Sample to Pittsburgh for the future second-round choice that became No. 24 overall in 1963, Butch Wilson. Sample immediately started all 14 games for the Steelers in 1961 and intercepted eight passes, then started six more games in 1962. Wilson gave Baltimore five seasons of role-player service, but Pittsburgh received the more impactful peak return.

New York traded linebacker John Guzik to Baltimore in early August 1961 for end Jerry Richardson. Richardson failed to make the Giants and was returned to the Colts on August 20, converting Baltimore's obligation into a future draft choice. Guzik also failed to produce a regular-season game for Baltimore before being released and later joining Houston of the AFL. The Giants therefore ended the exchange with an unidentified future pick while neither original player contributed in a regular-season game for his acquiring NFL club.

Indianapolis Colts received Jimmy Orr, Joe DeLucis, and Dick Campbell in the 1961-07-20 exchange with Pittsburgh Steelers. Jimmy Orr became a long-term Baltimore receiving contributor, while Joe DeLucis and Dick Campbell added package depth. The direct package, rather than later movement of any acquired asset, is the basis for the hindsight judgment. Against what Indianapolis Colts surrendered, the result supports Even Trade.

Baltimore's historical ledger records the Colts acquiring linebacker Tom Gunderman from Washington in exchange for Vince Scott. The substance of that player swap is supportable, but surviving contemporary records leave the exact execution date and parts of Scott's identity uncertain. No securely documented long-term contribution creates a clear value separation, so Baltimore's return should be described without adding precision the surviving record does not provide.

Green Bay traded quarterback Lamar McHan to Baltimore in March 1961 for the Colts' 1962 fifth-round selection, No. 65 overall. The Packers used that pick on Chuck Morris, who never appeared in a regular-season NFL game for Green Bay. McHan served behind Johnny Unitas for parts of three seasons, giving Baltimore modest but real quarterback depth.

Baltimore acquired Hall of Fame fullback Joe Perry from San Francisco in February 1961 for a conditional 1962 20th-round selection. Perry immediately became the Colts' leading rusher, gaining 675 yards in 1961 and adding 359 more in 1962. The 49ers surrendered an aging legend, but the extremely late conditional return never approached the two useful seasons Baltimore received.

Baltimore acquired defensive lineman Billy Ray Smith Sr. from Pittsburgh for defensive back Jackie Simpson on January 25, 1961. Smith became a long-term Colts mainstay, appearing in 124 regular-season games for Baltimore and starting 75, with a career that extended through the Super Bowl V championship season. Simpson gave Pittsburgh 21 games and five starts across two seasons. The longevity gap makes Baltimore the decisive winner.

Baltimore sent its 1961 first-round selection to San Francisco for tight end Dee Mackey, and the 49ers used the No. 11 pick on UCLA quarterback Billy Kilmer. Mackey never produced a regular-season receiving line for the Colts, while Kilmer became a useful multi-position 49er and later a long-term NFL starting quarterback. The first-round return gives San Francisco the decisive advantage.

Baltimore converted aging veteran Bert Rechichar into Pittsburgh’s 1961 fifth-round selection and used No. 62 on Auburn’s Ed Dyas. The pick carried developmental upside, but Dyas never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. Rechichar’s Steelers tenure was also short—six games and three starts in 1960—so this was a low-value exchange overall. Pittsburgh’s limited on-field service is enough to give the Steelers the edge.

The legacy record lists Baltimore Colts receiving 1962 ninth round pick (#116-Roy Walker) and Dallas Cowboys receiving Don Perkins (Anthony), but part of that date, identity, or downstream attribution remains disputed in the surviving historical record. Dallas secured Don Perkins rights after he had been drafted by Baltimore, and the Cowboys ultimately sent the Colts a 1962 ninth-round choice as compensation. The exact administrative date remains uncertain, but the football outcome is not: Perkins rushed for 6,217 yards in eight Dallas seasons and became a Cowboys Ring of

Baltimore sent guard Hanson Churchwell to Washington for a future draft choice that became the 1960 tenth-round selection at No. 112, used on Ernie Barnes. Barnes did not provide on-field value for the Colts, while Churchwell played 10 games with two starts for Washington before being released. Surviving sources disagree on whether the transaction occurred September 18 or September 22, so that date conflict remains explicit.

Green Bay moved Alex Hawkins to Baltimore for an undisclosed cash price in September 1959 after briefly placing him on waivers. Hawkins joined the defending champion Colts and contributed immediately during another title season. The Packers received cash, but Baltimore obtained the more valuable football return, making this a clear Colts win at a restrained historical scale.

Baltimore received the disputed 1960 ninth-round selection associated with Don Perkins and later obtained a 1962 compensatory ninth-round pick after Perkins was ruled Dallas property. Philadelphia received Jimmy Carr. Surviving sources do not fully resolve the original date, pick number or downstream attribution, so the record preserves that uncertainty. The documented returns do not support a clear winner, leaving the trade even.

New York acquired quarterback George Shaw from the Baltimore Colts for a 1960 second-round pick and a 1961 first-round pick. Baltimore used the second on Marvin Terrell and later moved the first-rounder in another transaction before San Francisco selected Billy Kilmer at No. 11. Shaw gave the Giants experienced quarterback depth, then produced additional value when New York traded him to Minnesota for the No. 2 pick in 1962.

Green Bay turned linebacker Marv Matuszak into guard Fuzzy Thurston in July 1959, giving Vince Lombardi an immediate building block for the offensive line. Thurston became a fixture on five NFL championship teams and protected the Packers’ power game for nearly a decade, while Matuszak spent two seasons in Baltimore primarily as linebacker depth.

The Cardinals exchanged veteran linebacker Leo Sanford for Dale Meinert in the summer of 1958. Sanford started nine games for Baltimore that season and then left the active roster, while Meinert became a durable ten-year Cardinals fixture, starting 123 NFL games and earning All-NFL recognition in 1964. The long-term value makes this a clear Cardinals victory.

Baltimore acquired defensive lineman Ray Krouse from Detroit on July 17, 1958, for a 1959 third-round pick, No. 36 overall, used on Ron Luciano. Krouse immediately joined a Colts defense that won consecutive NFL championships in 1958 and 1959. Luciano did not produce comparable NFL value for Detroit, leaving Baltimore with the stronger return.

Baltimore acquired veteran offensive tackle Dick Yelvington from the New York Giants during the 1958 offseason for a future draft choice whose round and selection are not identified in the reviewed public record. Yelvington had started 61 of 62 Giants games over six seasons, but he never appeared in a Colts regular-season game and his NFL career ended after 1957.

Baltimore acquired halfback Henry Moore from New York on September 12, 1957, for the 1958 fifth-round pick used on Bobby Joe Conrad. Moore played 11 games with three starts in his final NFL season. New York later used Conrad's rights in a trade that brought Pat Summerall and Lindon Crow, giving the Giants much more downstream roster value from the acquired selection.

Baltimore traded running back Dick Young to Pittsburgh for a 1958 seventh-round selection and used the pick on defensive back Johnny Sample. Young played only the 1957 season for the Steelers. Sample became part of both Colts championship teams, scored on a 42-yard interception return in the 1959 title game, and later built an 11-year professional career with 41 interceptions.

Baltimore sent tackle Tom Finnin to the Cardinals for a 1958 fifth-round pick and used that selection on Ole Miss defensive back Ray Brown. Finnin spent only the 1957 season with Chicago, while Brown started as a rookie, intercepted eight passes, handled punting duties, and became a starter on the Colts’ back-to-back 1958 and 1959 NFL championship teams.

Baltimore sent Charlie Shepard to Pittsburgh in 1956 and received the Steelers’ 1957 16th-round pick, No. 185, which became Joe Cannavino. Shepard played all 12 games for Pittsburgh that season and contributed as a runner, receiver, and punter. Cannavino never played a regular-season game for the Colts, so the Steelers won a low-stakes exchange through immediate usable production.

Chicago acquired defensive back Tom Keane from Baltimore for Dick Young in a 1955 exchange whose exact day is listed as approximate by transaction histories. Keane immediately became a productive Cardinals starter and intercepted six passes in 1955. Young gave Baltimore two seasons of reserve backfield service before moving on, leaving Chicago with the clearer on-field return.

Baltimore acquired defensive end Don Joyce from the Chicago Cardinals for guard Bill Lange and an unidentified draft choice in September 1954. Joyce became a seven-season Colt, played 81 regular-season games, and was part of Baltimore's 1958 and 1959 championship teams. Lange remained useful in Chicago, but the Colts received the far more durable and consequential player.

Baltimore acquired quarterback Gary Kerkorian from Los Angeles for the 1955 tenth-round pick that became Jesse Arnelle. Kerkorian started 10 games for the 1954 Colts and threw for 1,515 yards, giving the young franchise meaningful quarterback service. Arnelle was selected by the Rams but did not produce comparable NFL value, making Baltimore the clear beneficiary.

Baltimore's historical transaction ledger records James Kincaid going to the Los Angeles Rams in 1954 for tackle Jim Winkler. The date is approximate in the surviving transaction database, and the chronology is unusually opaque because Winkler already appears on Baltimore's 1953 roster while draft records list Los Angeles selecting Kincaid 29th overall in 1954. The named exchange is documented, but the public record does not explain the underlying rights timing well enough to claim a conventional player-for-player outcome.

Baltimore acquired defensive tackle Tom Finnin from the New York Giants on September 15, 1953 in a straight player-for-player trade for end Ray Pelfrey. Finnin became a four-season Colts regular, appearing in 44 games and starting 41 from 1953 through 1956.

Green Bay traded quarterback Dick Flowers to Baltimore on August 27, 1953 for an undisclosed 1954 draft choice. Packers historical records identify the realized compensation as the Colts-derived fourth-round selection at No. 40, which Green Bay used on West Virginia fullback Tommy Allman. Allman never appeared in an NFL regular-season game, so the acquired pick produced no on-field Packers value.

Baltimore acquired veteran quarterback Fred Enke from Philadelphia for George Musacco in August 1953. Enke became the Colts' leading passer that season, throwing for 1,054 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games. Musacco never established a professional playing career after military service interrupted his football path, so Baltimore received the only substantial NFL production from the exchange.

Baltimore acquired Dick Barwegen, Bob Williams and Paul Nestor from the Chicago Bears in July 1953 for Andy Hillhouse and two draft choices. Barwegen immediately became a Colts co-captain and starting lineman, giving Baltimore the clearest documented football value. The exact identities and later outcomes of Chicago's two selections are not securely established by the surviving reports.

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.

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.

The new Baltimore Colts acquired guard Bill Lange and halfback Tommy Kalmanir from the Los Angeles Rams in a transaction recorded as occurring around January 1, 1953. Contemporary transaction databases list the Rams' return only as undisclosed terms, so the compensation cannot be reconstructed responsibly. Lange started all 12 games for Baltimore in 1953, while Kalmanir appeared in nine games with three starts and produced 84 yards from scrimmage plus a receiving touchdown.

Chicago reacquired George Blanda from Baltimore on September 20, 1950, for a reported $500 after the Colts had placed him on waivers. Contemporary Green Bay reporting says Baltimore withdrew the waiver claim process and Halas bought Blanda back; Pro Football Archives records Blanda's return to Chicago on September 20. He then remained with the Bears for years, making the small cash return a poor long-term exchange for Baltimore.

Chicago sent George Blanda, Bob Perina, Ernie Zalejski, Jim Crawford and Bob Jensen to Baltimore in September 1950. The Bears subsequently received standout guard Dick Barwegan and the rights to retired tackle Dub Garrett. Barwegan became a first-team All-Pro for Chicago, while Blanda was back with the Bears within weeks and the other Baltimore arrivals did not create comparable lasting value, leaving Chicago ahead.

Baltimore acquired fullback Jim Spavital from Chicago on August 27, 1950 for the Colts' 1951 first-round selection. Spavital started nine games that season and produced 484 yards from scrimmage with three touchdowns. Chicago used the No. 2 overall pick on quarterback Bob Williams, whose NFL career totaled 981 passing yards and 10 touchdowns. The two clubs received different but similarly limited long-term returns.

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.