Indianapolis sent return specialist Terrence Wilkins to the…
Indianapolis sent return specialist Terrence Wilkins to the Rams for the 183rd pick in the 2002 draft, which the Colts used on safety James Lewis. Lewis did not become a regular-season contributor for Indianapolis. Wilkins, by contrast, immediately handled heavy kickoff- and punt-return work for St. Louis in 2002, including more than 1,000 kickoff-return yards. The Rams received the only substantial NFL value from the exchange.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- pick 2002 6th round pick (183rd overall, James Lewis)
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Terrence Wilkins
Trade Analysis
Why Indianapolis Moved Wilkins
Terrence Wilkins had already shown return ability for Indianapolis, but the Colts chose to convert him into a late-round selection before the 2002 season. The return was No. 183 overall, a sixth-round pick. Indianapolis used it on safety James Lewis. Late-round selections are low-cost opportunities, so the decision was defensible as a roster reset, but Lewis did not become a regular-season contributor for the Colts and the acquired pick produced little realized value.
What the Rams Added
The Rams were buying a known special-teams skill set rather than another developmental lottery ticket. Wilkins immediately became a major part of their return game in 2002. He handled 47 kickoffs for 1,074 yards and 25 punts for 242 yards, while also catching five passes. That is not star-level offensive production, but field-position work matters, and St. Louis obtained a player who filled a defined role right away for the price of a sixth-rounder.
How the Cost Changes the Grade
The Rams did not surrender premium capital or a core player. They exchanged one late pick for a veteran with demonstrated return experience, then received a season of substantial special-teams volume. Indianapolis’s side would look different if Lewis had developed into a reserve or starter, but the pick did not generate comparable NFL production. That makes the difference less about headline talent and more about one side receiving usable snaps while the other did not.
Final Verdict
Los Angeles Rams Win. The Rams earn a B- because Wilkins provided immediate return-game value at a modest cost. Indianapolis receives a D+ because the sixth-round asset failed to turn into meaningful roster production. The deal was small in scale, but its completed results are not especially close: St. Louis received the useful player and Indianapolis did not replace that value through the pick.