Minnesota's August 31, 1961 deal with Cleveland brought six…
Minnesota's August 31, 1961 deal with Cleveland brought six players to the expansion Vikings: Jim Prestel, Jim Marshall, Dick Grecni, Jamie Caleb, Billy Gault and Paul Dickson. Cleveland received 1962 picks No. 17 and No. 142. Marshall became a franchise pillar for 19 seasons, making Minnesota the overwhelming winner.
Cleveland Browns Received
- pick 1962 2nd round pick (17th overall, Charles Hinton)
- pick 1962 11th round pick (142nd overall, Ronnie Meyers)
Minnesota Vikings Received
- player Jim Prestel
- player Jim Marshall
- player Dick Grecni
- player Jamie Caleb
- player Billy Gault
- player Paul Dickson
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On August 31, 1961, expansion Minnesota acquired Jim Prestel, Jim Marshall, Dick Grecni, Jamie Caleb, Billy Gault and Paul Dickson from Cleveland. The Browns received Minnesota's 1962 second-round selection, No. 17, and eleventh-round selection, No. 142. Cleveland used those picks on Charles Hinton and Ronnie Meyers. The completed six-player package makes this much larger than the two-player version that can appear in abbreviated transaction listings.
Minnesota Vikings Return
Marshall transformed the trade. He joined Minnesota in its inaugural season and remained through 1979, becoming one of the defining players in franchise history. He started 270 games for the Vikings, played in four Super Bowls, earned Pro Bowl recognition and later entered the team's Ring of Honor. The other five players broadened the immediate return, but Marshall alone created enormous value. Minnesota obtained a foundational defensive lineman for nearly two decades from a transaction made before its first season was complete.
Cleveland Browns Return
Cleveland received two 1962 draft selections. The premium piece was No. 17, used on Charles Hinton, while No. 142 became Ronnie Meyers. The picks gave the Browns meaningful draft capital and explain why Cleveland was willing to send a large group of players to an expansion club. Yet neither selection produced anything remotely comparable to Marshall's Minnesota tenure. Cleveland's return was legitimate, but the ultimate career value left the Browns far behind.
Value in Hindsight
The scale of Marshall's career overwhelms the rest of the comparison. Trades involving several fringe or depth players can be difficult to judge, but this one contains a player who became synonymous with the receiving franchise. Minnesota obtained extraordinary durability, high-level defensive production and leadership across the franchise's rise into a perennial contender. Cleveland's two selections simply cannot offset that outcome, even though a second-round pick carried real value at the time.
Final Verdict
Minnesota wins decisively, A+ to C. The Vikings acquired a 19-season cornerstone in Marshall plus five additional players, while Cleveland received two selections that did not approach his impact. Few minor-tier historical transactions produced a more dramatic long-term payoff for Minnesota.