Indianapolis sent the 73rd and 127th picks to the Rams for…
Indianapolis sent the 73rd and 127th picks to the Rams for No. 65 in the 1993 draft and selected cornerback Ray Buchanan. The Rams chose Russell White and Chuck Belin with the return. Buchanan became a long-term NFL starter and intercepted 16 passes during his Colts tenure before later starring in Atlanta, giving Indianapolis the best realized value from the exchange.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- pick 1993 third round pick (#65-Ray Buchanan)
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick 1993 third round pick (#73-Russell White)
- pick 1993 fifth round pick (#127-Chuck Belin)
Trade Analysis
Indianapolis moved up eight spots in the third round of the 1993 draft, sending the Rams selections No. 73 and No. 127 for the 65th pick. The Colts used No. 65 on Louisville defensive back Ray Buchanan. Los Angeles selected running back Russell White at No. 73 and offensive lineman Chuck Belin at No. 127. The structure was straightforward: Indianapolis sacrificed an extra fifth-round chance to target one defensive back it valued more highly.
Buchanan justified the move. He developed into an immediate contributor for Indianapolis and played 61 regular-season games for the Colts, intercepting 16 passes. His career later reached another level in Atlanta, where he earned Pro Bowl recognition, but the Colts already had received substantial value before he left. Across his full NFL career he appeared in 184 games and recorded 47 interceptions, confirming that Indianapolis correctly identified a durable starting-caliber player.
The Rams' two selections did not produce comparable results. White's NFL career was brief, and Belin did not become a long-term foundational starter. Los Angeles can still receive a B-minus for obtaining two picks and creating more opportunities from one third-round slot; the process of trading down was reasonable. The realized football return simply did not match the player Indianapolis selected.
That makes the Colts' A-minus and the verdict appropriate. Indianapolis paid a manageable premium and used the acquired pick on a defensive back who contributed for four seasons before continuing a lengthy career elsewhere. The Rams improved their pick quantity but did not convert either selection into equivalent production. In a mid-round trade, landing the clearly superior player is enough to create a lasting advantage.