Indianapolis moved up to No. 92 in the 2012 draft and…
Indianapolis moved up to No. 92 in the 2012 draft and selected T.Y. Hilton, sending San Francisco pick No. 97 plus a 2013 fifth-round selection. Hilton became a four-time Pro Bowler and finished his Colts tenure with 631 receptions, 9,691 receiving yards and 53 touchdowns. That decade of high-end production overwhelms the respectable value San Francisco later extracted from its two draft assets.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- pick 2012 3rd round pick (92nd overall, T.Y. Hilton )
San Francisco 49ers Received
- pick 2012 4th round pick (97th overall; subsequently traded to Miami)
- pick 2013 5th round pick (157th overall, Quinton Dial )
Trade Analysis
The Draft-Day Move
Indianapolis traded with San Francisco during the 2012 draft to reach pick No. 92. The Colts used the selection on Florida International receiver T.Y. Hilton. San Francisco received pick No. 97 plus a 2013 fifth-round choice. The 49ers later moved No. 97 to Miami in another transaction, so Lamar Miller's career should not be credited as direct San Francisco production from this trade.
Hilton Became a Franchise Receiver
Hilton transformed the evaluation. He spent ten seasons with Indianapolis, made four Pro Bowls and repeatedly served as the Colts' primary deep threat. His Indianapolis totals reached 631 receptions, 9,691 receiving yards and 53 touchdowns. A third-round selection turning into a decade-long, near-10,000-yard receiver is exceptional draft value.
San Francisco Still Got Something
The 49ers did not come away empty. The future fifth-round pick became No. 157 in 2013, used on defensive lineman Quinton Dial. Dial played 46 games for San Francisco and started 32, including 26 starts across 2015 and 2016. That is strong production for a fifth-rounder. The No. 97 asset also retained trade value when San Francisco moved it onward.
The Gap Is Star Power
This is not a case where the losing side failed. San Francisco created useful depth and flexibility. Indianapolis simply landed the premier player in the entire chain, and Hilton's longevity, production and honors dwarf the return from the two assets the 49ers received.
Final Verdict
Indianapolis Colts Win. The Colts earn an A-plus for turning the move-up into T.Y. Hilton and a decade of elite receiving value. San Francisco earns a B-minus because Dial became a legitimate multi-year starter and the fourth-round pick remained movable capital. The Colts still win decisively.
The acquired player provided meaningful San Francisco roster value, while the exchanged draft capital never yielded a comparably durable return for the other side.