Indianapolis Colts–Tampa Bay Buccaneers Trade History

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.