Indianapolis Colts–Las Vegas Raiders Trade History

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.