Los Angeles Rams received Mike Henry in the exchange with…
Los Angeles Rams received Mike Henry in the exchange with Pittsburgh Steelers. Mike Henry did not provide the Rams with a comparable stretch of football value after the trade. His playing return was short, leaving Los Angeles with limited direct benefit from the exchange. In hindsight, that direct outcome supports a D+ grade for Los Angeles Rams. The judgment focuses on what this transaction itself produced rather than unrelated later moves.
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Mike Henry
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- player Clendon Thomas
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1962-09-03, Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers completed a deal in which Los Angeles Rams received Mike Henry, while Pittsburgh Steelers received Clendon Thomas. The exchange was modest in scale, so the evaluation turns on the actual football value each club received from the players or consideration involved.
Los Angeles Rams Return
Los Angeles Rams received Mike Henry in the exchange with Pittsburgh Steelers. Mike Henry did not provide the Rams with a comparable stretch of football value after the trade. His playing return was short, leaving Los Angeles with limited direct benefit from the exchange. In hindsight, that direct outcome supports a D+ grade for Los Angeles Rams. The judgment focuses on what this transaction itself produced rather than unrelated later moves.
Pittsburgh Steelers Return
Pittsburgh Steelers received Clendon Thomas in the exchange with Los Angeles Rams. Clendon Thomas became a versatile Pittsburgh contributor for seven seasons. He intercepted eight passes in 1963 and later contributed on offense as well, giving the Steelers both longevity and meaningful peak production. In hindsight, that direct outcome supports a B+ grade for Pittsburgh Steelers. The judgment focuses on what this transaction itself produced rather than unrelated later moves.
Value in Hindsight
Pittsburgh clearly received the more valuable football asset. Thomas' seven-season tenure and strong 1963 season outweigh Henry's limited Rams return by a wide margin. Because this was not a blockbuster, the grading should remain scaled to a relatively small transaction. The important question is whether one club turned its side of the exchange into clearly better usable football value, not whether either player became a league-wide star.
Final Verdict
The final judgment is Pittsburgh Steelers Win. Los Angeles Rams receives D+, while Pittsburgh Steelers receives B+. The verdict follows the strongest supported comparison of the direct returns and keeps later, independent roster moves from distorting the value of this particular trade.