Baltimore traded defensive lineman Jim Bailey to the New York…
Baltimore traded defensive lineman Jim Bailey to the New York Jets on January 28, 1975, for a fourth-round selection in that spring’s draft. The Colts used the pick at No. 93 on Paul Linford, who did not produce regular-season value for Baltimore. Bailey, by contrast, appeared in all 14 games for the Jets in 1975 and started eight, giving New York the clearly better immediate return.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- pick 1975 fourth round pick (#93-Paul Linford)
New York Jets Received
- player Jim Bailey (R.)
Trade Analysis
The Documented Exchange
Baltimore’s 1975 media guide records the transaction on January 28: the Colts sent defensive lineman Jim Bailey to the New York Jets and received a fourth-round selection in the 1975 draft. The Jets’ own historical retrospective likewise describes the January 1975 deal as a fourth-rounder for Bailey. Baltimore used that choice at No. 93 overall on Paul Linford. The official club material resolves both the date and the basic compensation cleanly.
What New York Received
Bailey supplied immediate defensive-line help. Pro Football Reference credits him with appearances in all 14 games for the Jets during the 1975 season, including eight starts. His stat line also includes an interception and 2.5 sacks. That is not star-level production, but it is useful realized value from a player acquired for a fourth-round pick. New York received a contributor who entered the lineup right away and was available throughout the season, exactly the kind of short-term return a veteran acquisition is supposed to provide.
What Baltimore Received
The Colts used the pick on Paul Linford, a defensive lineman from Oklahoma, at No. 93 overall. Baltimore’s draft record does not show Linford playing a regular-season game for the Colts. Green Bay transaction history indicates that the Packers later acquired him in August 1975 and released him before the season, further underscoring how little NFL value emerged from the selection for Baltimore. The Colts had a legitimate draft asset, but the actual result of that asset was essentially zero on-field return.
Final Verdict
This is a modest trade, not a franchise-changing one, yet the result has a clear direction. New York exchanged a fourth-round pick for a player who gave the club a full season of availability and eight starts. Baltimore used the pick on a player who never produced regular-season value for the Colts. The Jets therefore earn a B for converting the selection into dependable immediate snaps, while Baltimore receives a C. With the January 28 date and fourth-round compensation supported by club records, confidence is high.