Los Angeles paid the fourth and 34th selections in the 1982…
Los Angeles paid the fourth and 34th selections in the 1982 draft for veteran quarterback Bert Jones, hoping the former MVP-caliber passer could stabilize the position. Jones started only four games for the Rams before a serious neck injury ended his career. The short return made the price costly even though Baltimore's first-round choice, Art Schlichter, became a major disappointment.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- pick 1982 first round pick (#4-Art Schlichter)
- pick 1982 second round pick (#34-Rohn Stark)
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Bert Jones (Hays)
Trade Analysis
This trade looks very different if it is judged only by the fourth overall pick. Baltimore used that selection on Art Schlichter, whose NFL career quickly became a severe disappointment. If Schlichter were the entire return, Los Angeles could argue that the gamble on Bert Jones was defensible even though it failed. The second-round pick changes the calculation.
The Colts used No. 34 on punter Rohn Stark. Stark became a long-term fixture for the franchise and earned multiple Pro Bowl selections during a career that stretched well beyond the immediate rebuilding period. That sustained value gave Baltimore a meaningful asset from the deal even after the Schlichter selection collapsed. The transaction therefore produced one major miss and one unusually durable specialist for the Colts.
Los Angeles acquired a quarterback who had once been among the league's best and who was eager for a fresh start. The Rams reasonably believed Jones could still provide high-level play, but the actual return was brief. He appeared in four games, started all four, went 1-3, and threw for 527 yards in the strike-shortened 1982 season. A neck injury suffered later that year led doctors to warn him against continuing, and he retired in 1983.
The Colts did not maximize the premium first-round opportunity, so an A rather than an A+ would overstate the result. Still, turning a veteran who wanted out into two top-34 selections and receiving a long career from Stark was substantially better than four starts. The Rams receive a C for a plausible bet that produced almost no lasting value, while Baltimore earns an A- for the total package.