On 1967-10-04, Detroit Lions received 1968 sixth round pick…
On 1967-10-04, Detroit Lions received 1968 sixth round pick (selection not identified), while Indianapolis Colts received Jim Todd. The final verdict is Even Trade, with Detroit Lions graded C and Indianapolis Colts graded C. The hindsight view follows the documented consideration and later traceable value without treating every named pick outcome as if it had been directly exchanged on trade day. Both sides have identifiable consideration, allowing the hindsight grade to focus on what those assets actually became.
Detroit Lions Received
- pick 1968 sixth round pick (selection not identified)
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player Jim Todd
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1967-10-04, Detroit Lions received 1968 sixth round pick (selection not identified), while Indianapolis Colts received Jim Todd. That documented package is the starting point for the hindsight judgment. When a draft choice later became a named player, the later identity is useful context, but it is still treated as the outcome of the acquired pick rather than as a player who was directly exchanged on trade day.
Detroit Lions Return
Detroit Lions's return was 1968 sixth round pick (selection not identified). The side is graded C. The grade reflects the value that can actually be traced to the acquired consideration, not the apparent size of the package when the transaction occurred. The identified consideration provides a concrete basis for comparing this side with the return received by the other club.
Baltimore Colts Return
Indianapolis Colts's return was Jim Todd. The side is graded C. The same standard applies here: a recognizable player, a later draft name, or an extra line item matters only when it produced supportable value for the acquiring club. That keeps the comparison consistent across eras and prevents hindsight from giving either side credit for value it never actually received.
Value in Hindsight
Neither side shows enough documented separation in realized value to justify forcing a winner, so the even verdict remains the most proportionate reading. Because the consideration is identifiable on both sides, the comparison can stay centered on the later value attached to those specific assets. The purpose of the grade is to distinguish real football value without pretending that thin historical detail is more precise than it is. For older and lower-stakes trades especially, modest grades can still represent a useful transaction when neither return became a major franchise-changing asset.
Final Verdict
The final call is Even Trade. Detroit Lions receives C, and Indianapolis Colts receives C. The judgment follows the documented package, traceable downstream outcomes, and the certainty of each piece of consideration. Where the historical trail stops, the analysis stops with it rather than filling the gap with an unsupported assumption.