Baltimore acquired San Diego's 1973 eighth-round pick, No.…
Baltimore acquired San Diego's 1973 eighth-round pick, No. 189, and used it on defensive back Ray Oldham in exchange for veteran Tom Matte. Oldham became a multi-season Colts contributor with meaningful starting time, while Matte did not provide San Diego regular-season value after the transaction. The conversion of a retiring veteran into years of defensive depth makes this a clear Colts win.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- pick 1973 eighth round pick (#189-Ray Oldham)
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- player Tom Matte
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Baltimore's club history places this transaction on January 24, 1973: the Colts sent veteran running back Tom Matte to San Diego and received an eighth-round choice in that year's draft. The selection became No. 189 overall, which Baltimore used on defensive back Ray Oldham. The official Colts chronology is the strongest anchor for the date and package because it describes the move from the franchise's own transaction history.
Baltimore Return
Oldham turned a late-round pick into sustained roster value. His career record shows six seasons with Baltimore from 1973 through 1978. He appeared in roughly seventy games for the Colts and accumulated meaningful starting time in the secondary, including ten starts in 1974 and seven in 1976. He also intercepted passes early in his Baltimore tenure. That is an unusually useful outcome for an eighth-round selection and gave the Colts multiple years of inexpensive defensive depth after moving an aging veteran.
San Diego Return
Matte had been an important Colt, but the trade occurred at the end of his playing career. The Colts' historical account notes that he did not report to San Diego and retired. As a result, the Chargers did not receive regular-season playing value from the player they acquired. The lack of a San Diego contribution makes the comparison unusually clean: one side turned the exchange into a long-term contributor while the other received no on-field return.
Final Verdict
Baltimore wins decisively. Converting Matte at the end of his career into the pick used on Oldham created years of useful secondary play at minimal draft cost, while San Diego received no regular-season contribution from Matte. An A- for the Colts and D for the Chargers captures both Oldham's longevity and the complete absence of realized Chargers value.