New Orleans sent Bill Curry, the No. 1 overall pick, a 1967…
New Orleans sent Bill Curry, the No. 1 overall pick, a 1967 third-round pick and a 1969 seventh-rounder to Baltimore for quarterback Gary Cuozzo, Buford Allison and a 1967 seventeenth-round pick. Baltimore used No. 1 on Bubba Smith and also gained Curry, both future All-Pro-level starters on Super Bowl teams. Cuozzo lasted one Saints season before being traded again.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player Bill Curry
- pick 1967 first round pick (#1-Bubba Smith)
- pick 1967 third round pick (#54-Norm Davis)
- pick 1969 seventh round pick (#163-Gary Fleming)
New Orleans Saints Received
- player Gary Cuozzo
- player Buford Allison
- pick 1967 17th round pick (#438-Billy Bob Stewart)
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
In March 1967 the expansion Saints acquired quarterback Gary Cuozzo, guard Buford Allison and Baltimore's seventeenth-round pick. The Colts received center Bill Curry, the No. 1 overall pick, a third-round selection and a 1969 seventh-round choice. Baltimore used the top pick on Michigan State defensive end Bubba Smith and the third-rounder on Norman Davis.
Why Baltimore's Return Became Championship Material
Curry had just started at center for Green Bay in Super Bowl I and became an important Colt, later earning All-Pro recognition and starting on Baltimore's Super Bowl teams. Smith developed into a dominant defensive end, earned multiple All-Pro honors and started for the Colts in Super Bowls III and V. The trade gave Baltimore two foundational starters plus additional draft value.
How Quickly the Saints Had to Move On
Cuozzo did not become the expansion franchise's long-term quarterback. He started ten games in 1967, then New Orleans traded him to Minnesota the next offseason for two first-round picks. That later recovery softened the damage, but it does not erase the enormous original price. Allison also failed to become a meaningful Saints contributor, and the seventeenth-round asset added little.
Final Verdict
The later Cuozzo-to-Minnesota trade recovered value for New Orleans, but that was a separate transaction and cannot erase this result. Baltimore wins by a huge margin. The Colts turned expendable quarterback depth into a first overall pick, a proven championship center and more draft capital. New Orleans received one season from Cuozzo before starting over. An A+ for the Colts and F for the Saints reflects one of the clearest early expansion-era mismatches.