Baltimore traded Ralph Neely's NFL rights to Dallas on August…
Baltimore traded Ralph Neely's NFL rights to Dallas on August 29, 1965 for Billy Lothridge and a 1966 fourth-round choice, No. 54. The Colts later used that pick on Rod Sherman. Dallas earns an A+ because Neely became one of the defining linemen of the franchise's rise. Baltimore received a player and a fourth-round pick, but the long-term disparity is too large to call the package competitive.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- player Ralph Neely
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player Billy Lothridge
- pick 1966 fourth round pick (#54- Rod Sherman )
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Baltimore traded Ralph Neely's NFL rights to Dallas on August 29, 1965 for Billy Lothridge and a 1966 fourth-round choice, No. 54. The Colts later used that pick on Rod Sherman. The exchange made sense as a roster decision for both clubs at the time: Dallas Cowboys received Ralph Neely, while Baltimore Colts received Billy Lothridge; 1966 fourth round pick (#54-Rod Sherman). The historical terms are stated at the level the surviving team and transaction records support, without attaching an uncertain draft choice to a named player when that link is not secure.
What Dallas Cowboys Received
Dallas secured a foundational offensive tackle. Neely became an immediate starter, earned multiple All-Pro honors, played 13 seasons for the Cowboys and finished his career after the Super Bowl XII championship. For Dallas Cowboys, the grade weighs the immediate role of the acquired asset, how long it remained useful, and whether any draft capital created a later roster return. That keeps the evaluation centered on football value rather than the reputation of the names involved.
What Baltimore Colts Received
Baltimore's return did not approach that level. Lothridge was waived before the 1965 season, while Sherman gave the Colts some roster value but nothing close to the decade-plus impact Neely supplied Dallas. For Baltimore Colts, the same standard applies: games played, starting value, later movement, and the practical quality of any selection received. A late pick is not treated like a premium asset, and a veteran who never reached the regular season does not receive credit for value that never materialized.
Final Verdict
Dallas earns an A+ because Neely became one of the defining linemen of the franchise's rise. Baltimore received a player and a fourth-round pick, but the long-term disparity is too large to call the package competitive. The final grades are Dallas Cowboys A+ and Baltimore Colts C. The verdict is based on the strongest supportable description of the transaction and the career value that followed. That produces a complete historical judgment while keeping the package faithful to what the available football records can actually establish.