Indianapolis moved from No. 72 to No. 69 in the 1979 third…
Indianapolis moved from No. 72 to No. 69 in the 1979 third round, sending Houston the No. 72 selection plus No. 171 in the seventh round. The Colts used No. 69 on Kim Anderson, who played 56 NFL games with 12 starts for Indianapolis. Houston used No. 72 on Kenny King, who later became valuable enough to headline a significant trade with the Raiders, while No. 171 Tim Ries added little. The Oilers hold a narrow edge.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- pick 1979 third round pick (#69-Kim Anderson)
Tennessee Titans Received
- pick 1979 third round pick (#72-Kenny King)
- pick 1979 seventh round pick (#171-Tim Ries)
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Indianapolis wanted to move up three spots in the third round of the 1979 draft and paid Houston an additional seventh-round selection to do it. The Colts targeted Kim Anderson at No. 69. Houston moved back to No. 72, where it selected Kenny King, and also received No. 171, used on Tim Ries. The structure was a conventional draft-day trade with a small premium attached to the move up.
What Indianapolis Received
Anderson provided useful service. Player records credit him with 56 NFL games and 12 starts for the Colts across the early 1980s after his rookie season was lost to injury. That is a respectable result from a third-round defensive back and prevents Indianapolis from receiving a poor grade. The Colts got the player they wanted and received several seasons of roster value.
What Houston Received
King's direct Oilers tenure was brief, but his value did not disappear. Houston traded him to the Raiders in 1980 in the deal that brought back Jack Tatum and two seventh-round selections. King then became a productive Raiders back. The extra No. 171 selection, Tim Ries, did not add meaningful NFL value, so Houston's edge comes primarily from what King was worth as a young asset after one season.
How the Value Developed
Indianapolis obtained the steadier direct player return, while Houston obtained the more valuable movable asset. It would be too aggressive to credit the Oilers with King's later Raiders production, but the return Houston received when it traded him is relevant to the value the franchise actually held. That additional leverage nudges the deal away from Even.
Final Verdict
Houston/Tennessee earns a B- and Indianapolis a C+. Anderson gave the Colts useful multi-season service, making this a competitive exchange. King's subsequent trade value, plus the additional seventh-round choice, created the slightly stronger overall return for the Oilers. The advantage is real but modest.