Los Angeles reacquired defensive back Carl Karilivacz from…
Los Angeles reacquired defensive back Carl Karilivacz from the New York Giants in October 1959 for a future draft choice. Karilivacz appeared in 15 games with four starts across the 1959 and 1960 Rams seasons. Historical draft records show the Giants later used a fourth-round choice from Los Angeles at No. 46 on Ben Davidson, but Davidson never played a regular-season game for New York. The Rams therefore received the stronger franchise return, with medium confidence on the exact pick linkage.
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Carl Karilivacz
New York Giants Received
- pick 1961 fourth-round pick, No. 46 overall, used on Ben Davidson (linkage supported but not fully confirmed)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Los Angeles acquired defensive back Carl Karilivacz from the New York Giants on October 8, 1959 for a future draft choice. The trade came a year after the Giants had acquired Karilivacz from Detroit, where he had been a long-time starter. The later draft trail points to New York's 1961 fourth-round selection at No. 46. The Giants' own draft history labels Ben Davidson as a fourth-round choice from Los Angeles, while ProSportsTransactions connects that pick to the Karilivacz trade but flags the exact linkage as unconfirmed.
Los Angeles' Return
Karilivacz immediately entered the Rams secondary. Pro Football Reference credits him with six games and three starts for Los Angeles in 1959, then nine games and one start in 1960. He did not reproduce the interception production from his Detroit and New York years, but he supplied 15 regular-season appearances and four starts across two Rams seasons. For a future fourth-round-level cost, that is modest but real veteran depth value.
New York's Return
The Giants used No. 46 overall in the 1961 draft on Washington defensive lineman Ben Davidson. New York's media guide explicitly identifies that choice as coming from Los Angeles. Davidson went on to have a long and distinguished professional career, including three Pro Bowls and an All-Pro season, but none of that value accrued to the Giants. His NFL record begins with Green Bay in 1961, followed by Washington and then a major AFL run with Oakland. Under franchise-return grading, a successful career elsewhere cannot be credited to New York.
The Pick-Lineage Caveat
The critical distinction is between ownership of the pick and proof of the originating transaction. Giants records establish that No. 46 came from Los Angeles. Transaction research identifies the October 1959 Karilivacz deal as the likely source, but does not claim airtight confirmation. That is enough to preserve the trade as gradeable with medium confidence, but not enough to present the pick chain as certain.
Final Verdict
Los Angeles Rams Win. The Rams earn a B- for receiving two seasons, 15 games and four starts from Karilivacz. The Giants earn a C because the probable fourth-round return became Davidson, a very good professional player who nevertheless produced zero regular-season value for New York. The Rams' advantage is real at the franchise level, while the exact compensation chain keeps confidence at medium rather than high.