Indianapolis acquired linebacker Anthony Griggs from…
Indianapolis acquired linebacker Anthony Griggs from Cleveland on August 30, 1988 for a conditional 1989 twelfth-round pick. The condition was not exercised, so Cleveland received no drafted player from the deal. Griggs had been a productive starter earlier in his career, but his official NFL record ends with five Browns games in 1988 and shows no regular-season Colts appearance, leaving little realized value either way.
Cleveland Browns Received
- pick 1989 conditional twelfth round pick (not exercised)
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player Anthony Griggs
Trade Analysis
Why Indianapolis Added Griggs
The Colts acquired Anthony Griggs on August 30, 1988, sending Cleveland a conditional 1989 twelfth-round choice. Griggs had real experience: he had started extensively for Philadelphia and had also played a significant role for Cleveland earlier in his career. For Indianapolis, a conditional final-round pick was a low-risk way to examine a veteran linebacker immediately before the season.
What Cleveland Was Owed
Indianapolis' own historical trade list identifies the price as a conditional twelfth-rounder and marks the condition as unexercised. That means Cleveland did not ultimately turn the move into a drafted player. The Browns had already reduced Griggs' role—he appeared in only five Cleveland games in 1988—so moving him for even a possible late pick made roster-management sense, even though the compensation never materialized.
How the On-Field Value Disappeared
Pro Football Reference lists Griggs' final NFL regular-season action with Cleveland in 1988 and does not show a Colts appearance. Indianapolis therefore did not receive measurable regular-season production from the acquisition. Because the conditional pick also failed to convey, the transaction produced almost no lasting football value on either side despite the recognizable veteran name involved.
Final Verdict
This belongs in the Even Trade category with C grades. Indianapolis paid no realized draft cost but also received no regular-season contribution. Cleveland cleared a veteran from the roster but did not collect the conditional selection. Neither result is damaging enough for a poor grade, and neither creates a credible victory. The exchange was essentially a low-cost late-summer tryout that left both franchises close to where they started.