Indianapolis traded center A.Q. Shipley to Baltimore for a…
Indianapolis traded center A.Q. Shipley to Baltimore for a conditional 2014 seventh-round pick that became No. 232, used on tackle Ulrick John. Shipley appeared in all 16 games for the Ravens in 2013 and started the final nine before being waived the next summer. John spent his rookie year on injured reserve and never played a regular-season snap for Indianapolis, leaving Baltimore with the better realized return.
Baltimore Ravens Received
- player A.Q. Shipley
Indianapolis Colts Received
- pick 2014 7th round pick (232nd overall, Ulrick John )
Trade Analysis
Why the Deal Happened
Indianapolis had depth at center and traded A.Q. Shipley to Baltimore in May 2013 for a conditional 2014 draft choice. The Ravens were looking for interior-line competition after an offseason of roster change. The condition produced a seventh-round pick, eventually No. 232 overall.
What Each Side Received
Shipley became useful quickly. He appeared in all 16 regular-season games for Baltimore and started the final nine at center, giving the Ravens real snaps from a low-cost acquisition. Baltimore waived him during final cuts in August 2014. Indianapolis used the acquired seventh-rounder on offensive tackle Ulrick John.
How the Return Aged
John did not provide Indianapolis with a comparable return. He spent his rookie season on injured reserve and was waived by the Colts in September 2015 without playing a regular-season snap for the franchise. He later appeared in NFL games elsewhere, but that later career did not add value to Indianapolis’s side of this trade.
Why the Margin Matters
Neither team acquired a long-term cornerstone, so the grade ceiling should stay modest. The distinction is that Baltimore actually solved a lineup problem for much of one season, while Indianapolis’s draft compensation never became an on-field contributor for the Colts. For a transaction built around a conditional late-round pick, nine starts are meaningful separation.
Final Verdict
Baltimore Ravens Win. Baltimore receives a B- for getting a season of useful center play at a minimal acquisition cost. Indianapolis receives a D+ because the seventh-round return did not produce any regular-season Colts value.
Baltimore received nine starts and 16 appearances from Shipley during the 2013 season, giving the Ravens useful interior-line depth. Indianapolis used the conditional seventh-rounder on Ulrick John, who never appeared in a regular-season game for the Colts, leaving Baltimore with the clearer realized return. Baltimore clearly received the better single-season return.