Green Bay acquired receiver Carroll Dale from Los Angeles in…
Green Bay acquired receiver Carroll Dale from Los Angeles in a straight-up exchange for linebacker Dan Currie. Dale became a premier Packers deep threat, earned three Pro Bowl selections and contributed to three consecutive championship teams. Currie brought an accomplished Green Bay career to Los Angeles but remained with the Rams for only two seasons, giving the Packers substantially more lasting value.
Green Bay Packers Received
- player Carroll Dale
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Dan Currie
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Was
Green Bay and Los Angeles completed a straight-up Carroll Dale-for-Dan Currie swap on April 13, 1965. Multiple Packers historical sources describe only those two players changing teams. The extra 1966 fifth-round selection sometimes attached to the transaction belongs elsewhere in the draft trail and should not be credited to Los Angeles here. Cleaning the package matters because the true deal was simpler—and even more favorable to Green Bay.
Why Dale Became a Championship Piece
Dale fit Vince Lombardi's offense perfectly. Over seven Packers seasons he became one of the league's premier vertical receivers, using his speed to stretch defenses for Bart Starr. He made three consecutive Pro Bowls and helped Green Bay win the 1965 NFL title, Super Bowl I, and Super Bowl II. His Packers production reached 275 receptions, 5,422 yards and 35 touchdowns, an enormous return from a one-for-one veteran swap.
What Los Angeles Got From Currie
Currie was not an insignificant name. He had been a Pro Bowl linebacker in Green Bay and brought veteran credibility to the Rams. But he was near the back end of his career and played only two seasons for Los Angeles. The Rams received a useful veteran rather than a long-term building block, and nothing on their side approached Dale's sustained impact or championship importance.
Final Verdict
Green Bay earns an A+ and the decisive win. Dale became a multi-year Pro Bowl receiver and a major component of three straight championship teams. Los Angeles gets a C because Currie did provide professional, short-term value, but the difference in longevity and peak impact is enormous. Removing the unsupported fifth-round pick makes the historical package cleaner and the Packers' advantage even clearer.
Dale's championship-era Packers career overwhelmingly surpassed Currie's short Los Angeles tenure in lasting value by a wide margin.