Chicago used a fifth-round choice transferred from the…
Chicago used a fifth-round choice transferred from the Cardinals to select Stanford back Lloyd Merriman at No. 32 in the 1947 NFL draft. Merriman chose baseball instead of professional football and never played for the Bears, while the Cardinals' consideration remains unidentified. With no documented NFL return on Chicago's side and an unknown return on Arizona's side, the trade is graded Even at C/C.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- other historical unspecified consideration (identity not established)
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 1947 fifth round pick (#32-Lloyd Merriman)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
The 1947 draft record identifies pick No. 32 as a Chicago Cardinals selection transferred to the Chicago Bears. The Bears used that fifth-round choice on Stanford back Lloyd Merriman. The researched transaction sources do not identify what the Cardinals received for the pick, so that side must remain historical unspecified consideration rather than a reconstructed package.
Arizona Cardinals Return
The Cardinals' return is not identified in the available transaction record. Pro Sports Transactions marks the consideration as unknown while confirming that the choice moved to Chicago. Because no player, pick, cash amount, or other asset can be tied confidently to Arizona's side, there is no documented realized football value to compare against Chicago's acquired draft selection.
Chicago Bears Return
Chicago obtained the No. 32 pick and selected Merriman, a prominent Stanford football player. Merriman did not turn that draft investment into NFL production. SABR's biography records that he showed no interest in signing after the draft and instead pursued professional baseball. Pro Football Reference likewise lists no NFL playing career for him, leaving the Bears without realized on-field value from the selected player.
Value in Hindsight
The transferred pick is real, but its realized football outcome was effectively zero because Merriman never played in the NFL. Arizona's compensation remains unknown, which prevents a positive or negative valuation of the Cardinals' side. Those facts do not support the previous assumption that Chicago gained the stronger asset simply by controlling the draft choice.
Final Verdict
Even Trade with C grades on both sides best fits the evidence. Chicago received a valid fifth-round selection but no NFL production from Merriman, while Arizona's return cannot be measured from the available record. Matching grades acknowledge the absence of demonstrated football value on Chicago's side and the unresolved consideration on the Cardinals' side.