Baltimore acquired veteran quarterback Jim Harbaugh and the…
Baltimore acquired veteran quarterback Jim Harbaugh and the 93rd pick from Indianapolis on February 17, 1998, sending the Colts picks 71 and 104. Harbaugh started 12 games for the Ravens in 1998, while Indianapolis used No. 71 on receiver E.G. Green and later moved No. 104 in another trade. Neither side created major long-term value from the original exchange, making the deal a balanced veteran-for-draft-capital swap.
Baltimore Ravens Received
- player Jim Harbaugh
- pick 1998 4th round pick (93rd overall; subsequently traded, Steve McKinney selected after the trade)
Indianapolis Colts Received
- pick 1998 3rd round pick (71st overall, E.G. Green)
- pick 1998 4th round pick (104th overall; subsequently traded, Todd Washington selected after the trade)
Trade Analysis
Why Baltimore Added Harbaugh
The Ravens needed a veteran quarterback for 1998 and acquired Jim Harbaugh from Indianapolis along with the 93rd overall draft choice. Harbaugh had been a Pro Bowler with the Colts and gave Baltimore an experienced starter while the franchise continued building around a young roster. The price was a third-round pick at No. 71 and a fourth-rounder at No. 104.
What Harbaugh Delivered
Harbaugh started 12 games for Baltimore in 1998 and appeared in 14. The Ravens finished 6-10, so the move did not produce a playoff breakthrough, but it did solve the starting-quarterback job for most of the season. The 93rd pick that came with Harbaugh was later traded back to Indianapolis in a separate draft-day exchange rather than used by Baltimore on Steve McKinney.
How Indianapolis Used the Return
The Colts selected wide receiver E.G. Green at No. 71. Green played only a limited NFL role and did not become a long-term Indianapolis starter. The No. 104 choice was subsequently moved, eventually becoming part of the later swap that brought No. 93 back to the Colts. The original trade therefore gave Indianapolis additional draft flexibility but no obvious centerpiece that overwhelms the value Baltimore received from a season of Harbaugh.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Both teams earn a C+. Baltimore received a functional veteran starter and an additional pick, while Indianapolis gained draft capital during a roster transition. Harbaugh’s one-year role and Green’s limited career keep either side from claiming a decisive advantage. The later draft maneuvering created value elsewhere, but the original exchange itself was largely balanced.