Minnesota Vikings received linebacker Dave Tobey from…
Minnesota Vikings received linebacker Dave Tobey from Pittsburgh Steelers for the 1967 eighth round pick that became No. 192 John Foruria. Tobey played 16 games with two starts for Minnesota across 1966 and 1967, while Foruria played nine games with four starts for Pittsburgh across 1967 and 1968. Both clubs obtained modest roster value, and neither return separated enough to justify a clear winner.
Minnesota Vikings Received
- player Dave Tobey
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- pick 1967 eighth round pick (#192-John Foruria / John Forunia)
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Minnesota acquired linebacker Dave Tobey from Pittsburgh on September 2, 1966 for an eighth-round selection in the 1967 draft. Minnesota's official draft history states that its No. 192 choice was traded to Pittsburgh for Tobey, and Pittsburgh used that slot on Idaho defensive back John Foruria. The transaction is a straightforward veteran-for-late-pick exchange with useful, measurable returns on both sides.
What Minnesota Vikings Got
Tobey stepped directly into Minnesota's roster. He played all 14 games in 1966 and started once, then appeared in two more games with one start in 1967. Across his Vikings tenure he totaled 16 games, two starts and three Approximate Value. He was not a major long-term piece, but Minnesota converted a late selection into immediate linebacker depth and received two seasons of contribution before Tobey moved on to Denver.
What Pittsburgh Steelers Got
Pittsburgh used the acquired eighth-round choice on John Foruria. Foruria played three games and started two as a rookie in 1967, then appeared in six games with two starts in 1968. His Pittsburgh career therefore totaled nine games, four starts and two Approximate Value. The Steelers received fewer appearances than Minnesota did from Tobey, but Foruria made more starts and likewise supplied two seasons of usable depth.
Final Verdict
Even Trade is the most defensible result. Minnesota received more total games from Tobey, while Pittsburgh received more starts from Foruria, and neither player developed into a long-term core contributor. Because the exchange involved an eighth-round choice and produced modest two-season value for both clubs, C grades on each side better fit the outcome than forcing a winner. The Vikings got immediate help; the Steelers converted the pick into a player who also contributed. The realized value remains too close for meaningful separation.