Baltimore sent veteran tight end Tom Mitchell to San…
Baltimore sent veteran tight end Tom Mitchell to San Francisco in July 1974 and received three selections in the 1975 draft: No. 53 Mike Washington, No. 105 Roosevelt Leaks and No. 157 Kim Jones. Washington became a long-time NFL defensive back, while Leaks rushed for more than 2,400 career yards. The three-pick return gave Baltimore substantial depth and long-term player value.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- pick 1975 third round pick (#53- Mike Washington )
- pick 1975 fifth round pick (#105-Roosevelt Leaks)
- pick 1975 seventh round pick (#157-Kim Jones)
San Francisco 49ers Received
- player Tom Mitchell
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Baltimore was reshaping its roster and turned veteran tight end Tom Mitchell into three 1975 selections. The contemporaneous 1975 Colts guide identifies all three choices, including two that had previously moved through San Francisco in earlier deals. This treatment uses the most specific contemporaneous or club-history description available and leaves any genuinely unidentified draft choice unnamed rather than attaching a speculative player.
What Baltimore Colts Received
Baltimore received Mike Washington, Roosevelt Leaks and Kim Jones. Washington became a long-time NFL defensive back, while Leaks produced more than 2,400 rushing yards. That is unusually strong depth from a veteran-for-picks exchange. The return is evaluated on the assets that can be tied directly to the transaction, not on later guesses about uncertain pick chains. That keeps the historical package readable while preserving the limits of what can be established.
What San Francisco 49ers Received
San Francisco received Mitchell, an established tight end, but surrendered three selections in the same draft. Later club histories describe the package differently, yet the contemporary Colts account provides the clearest itemized description. The football result matters because a trade grade should reflect both the price paid and what the acquired asset actually delivered. Immediate roster value, later movement and retained draft capital all shape the comparison.
Final Verdict
The Colts receive an A- and the 49ers a C. Baltimore converted one veteran into three usable draft assets, two of which became productive NFL players. San Francisco got immediate help, but the long-term value tilted clearly toward Baltimore. The grade is based on the strongest documented version of the exchange and the subsequent value each club received. Where later histories disagree on a peripheral detail, the uncertain detail is left general instead of being presented as settled fact.
Washington and Leaks gave Baltimore substantial multi-player draft value.