Indianapolis sent the 144th pick to the Rams in the 1986…
Indianapolis sent the 144th pick to the Rams in the 1986 draft for picks No. 172, No. 190 and No. 326. The Colts selected Chris White, Tommy Sims and Isaac Williams; Sims appeared in one NFL game, while White and Williams did not become regular-season Colts contributors. The Rams used No. 144 on Robert Cox, later Robert Jenkins, who developed into a multi-year NFL linebacker, giving Los Angeles the better return.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- pick 1986 seventh round pick (#172-(R.) Chris White)
- pick 1986 seventh round pick (#190-Tommy Sims)
- pick 1986 twelfth round pick (#327-Isaac Williams)
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick 1986 sixth round pick (#144-Robert Cox / Robert Jenkins)
Trade Analysis
Why the Rams Consolidated Picks
Los Angeles sent two seventh-round choices and a twelfth-round pick to Indianapolis for No. 144 in the 1986 draft. The Rams used the higher selection on Robert Cox, who later played under the name Robert Jenkins. Indianapolis chose kicker Chris White at No. 172, defensive back Tommy Sims at No. 190 and defensive tackle Isaac Williams late in the twelfth round.
What Indianapolis Received
The quantity approach did not produce meaningful NFL value. White was released before the 1986 regular season. Williams also failed to establish himself on the Colts' regular-season roster. Sims appeared in one game and started it before going to injured reserve. Three selections therefore became almost no sustained Indianapolis playing time.
What Los Angeles Received
Jenkins developed into the only durable NFL contributor created by the exchange. He played multiple seasons for the Rams and later continued with the Raiders, finishing with 117 regular-season games and 34 starts. Even if much of his career value came as a role player rather than a star, that is a strong result from the 144th pick.
How the Value Settled
This trade illustrates that three late chances do not automatically beat one earlier selection. Indianapolis multiplied its picks but did not convert them into roster staying power. The Rams concentrated their capital and found a linebacker who remained in the league for a decade.
Final Verdict
Los Angeles earns a B and Indianapolis a C. Jenkins' long NFL career and multi-year Rams service clearly exceed the one-game combined regular-season footprint produced by the Colts' three selections. The gap is meaningful without being spectacular, making this a Los Angeles Rams Win.