Cleveland Browns received the 1966 fifth-round pick used on…
Cleveland Browns received the 1966 fifth-round pick used on Randy Schultz; Schultz played 14 games without a start for Cleveland and carried seven times for 32 yards before leaving after his rookie season. The team earns a C-, compared with B+ for Detroit Lions, and the hindsight verdict is Detroit Lions Win. That judgment reflects the concrete team-specific production, role and tenure created by the assets in this deal.
Cleveland Browns Received
- pick 1966 fifth round pick (#74- Randy Schultz )
Detroit Lions Received
- player Roger Shoals / Rodger Shoals
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Cleveland traded tackle Roger Shoals to Detroit in September 1965 for a 1966 fifth-round draft choice. The Browns later used that selection, No. 74 overall, on running back Randy Schultz. Both branches are fully traceable: Detroit's value is Shoals' Lions tenure, while Cleveland's value is what Schultz actually did for the Browns after being selected with the acquired pick.
Cleveland Browns Return
Cleveland did get an NFL player from the pick, but not a meaningful long-term return. Schultz appeared in all 14 games for the 1966 Browns without making a start. Offensively, he carried seven times for 32 yards and did not score. He left Cleveland after that rookie season and continued his career with New Orleans. For the Browns, the acquired fifth-rounder therefore became one season of reserve/special-teams availability and very little offensive production.
Detroit Lions Return
Detroit received a starting tackle for the better part of six seasons. Shoals played for the Lions from 1965 through 1970, appearing in 74 games and starting 57. He started 11 games immediately in 1965, then remained a regular part of the line through the end of the decade, including 14 starts in each of 1968, 1969 and 1970. That is a large amount of durable lineup value from a player surrendered for a fifth-round pick.
Value in Hindsight
The original C+/C+ tie understated the outcome. Cleveland can receive some credit because the pick conveyed and Schultz made the roster for a full season, but 14 reserve appearances and 32 rushing yards are not remotely comparable with 57 starts at tackle. Detroit acquired a multi-year starter who occupied a premium lineup spot across six seasons; Cleveland acquired a one-year reserve who never started a game for the Browns.
Final Verdict
Detroit earns a B+ and the win, while Cleveland falls to C-. Shoals' 74 games and 57 starts make the Lions' return substantial and durable. Schultz was a real draft selection and an active rookie, so Cleveland's side is not an outright zero, but his 14 games, zero starts and 32 rushing yards produced only a fraction of the football value Detroit received.