Green Bay sent veteran defensive end Alden Roche to Baltimore…
Green Bay sent veteran defensive end Alden Roche to Baltimore on September 6, 1977 for a conditional 1978 seventh-round choice. Indianapolis' official Colts history marks that pick with an asterisk identifying a trade canceled by an unmet condition, so Green Bay never received the selection. Roche was released by Baltimore six days later, leaving the Packers without a realized return but also without surrendering meaningful future value.
Green Bay Packers Received
- pick conditional 1978 seventh-round pick (condition not met; no pick conveyed)
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player Alden Roche
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Green Bay moved Alden Roche to Baltimore on September 6, 1977 for a conditional seventh-round choice in the 1978 draft. Contemporary reporting described the return as a future draft choice, while the Colts' own transaction history supplies the crucial detail: the seventh-rounder is marked with the notation used for trades canceled when a condition was not met.
Baltimore's Short Look
The Colts did not turn Roche into regular-season production. Pro Football Archives records Baltimore acquiring him on September 6 and releasing him on September 12. Roche then signed with Seattle later that month and played there during the 1977 season. Baltimore therefore spent no realized draft capital and received no regular-season contribution from the player.
Green Bay's Outcome
The Packers parted with a veteran defender they were prepared to move, but the conditional compensation never vested. That means Green Bay cannot be credited with a seventh-round selection or any player produced by such a pick. The practical return was zero, although the cost of the transaction was also limited because Roche was soon available elsewhere.
Comparing the Returns
This is a case where the condition matters more than the nominal round. Baltimore obtained six days of roster rights without paying a draft choice. Green Bay received no pick, but it also moved a player who did not remain with the acquiring club. Neither side created lasting value from the transaction itself.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Both teams receive a C. Baltimore's no-cost look at Roche was harmless but produced nothing on the field, while Green Bay received no realized compensation. The unmet condition prevents either side from claiming meaningful trade value and keeps the result squarely in low-impact territory.
Roche never reached Baltimore's regular-season roster and the conditional pick never conveyed, leaving both clubs with minimal realized value from the transaction.