Indianapolis Colts–Los Angeles Rams Trade History

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.

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 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 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.

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 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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Multi-team transaction also involving Buffalo Bills.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.