Baltimore sent its 1961 first-round selection to San…
Baltimore sent its 1961 first-round selection to San Francisco for tight end Dee Mackey, and the 49ers used the No. 11 pick on UCLA quarterback Billy Kilmer. Mackey never produced a regular-season receiving line for the Colts, while Kilmer became a useful multi-position 49er and later a long-term NFL starting quarterback. The first-round return gives San Francisco the decisive advantage.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player Dee Mackey
San Francisco 49ers Received
- pick 1961 first round pick (#11-Billy Kilmer)
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Did
The 49ers sent tight end Dee Mackey to Baltimore and received a first-round choice in the 1961 draft. San Francisco's historical trade list identifies the selection as the choice used on UCLA quarterback Billy Kilmer, and the Colts' own history also traces that first-rounder to the Mackey transaction. Draft transaction records place the exchange on December 28, 1960.
Why the Value Tilted
Mackey did not give Baltimore the kind of return normally expected for a first-round pick. His NFL career was brief, and the Colts did not receive sustained offensive production from the acquisition. Giving up a first-rounder for a player who failed to become a meaningful long-term contributor is the central reason Baltimore lands at a D.
How the Outcome Aged
San Francisco used the No. 11 selection on Kilmer. His 49ers career was unconventional: he played quarterback, halfback and other offensive roles before later becoming a starting quarterback for New Orleans and Washington. The 49ers did not receive the best years of Kilmer's career, so this is not an A+ outcome. Still, they obtained five seasons from a first-round talent and far more durable value than Mackey supplied Baltimore.
Final Verdict
San Francisco earns an A and the win because it turned Dee Mackey into the 11th pick and a player who had a long professional career. Baltimore earns a D because Mackey did not justify the premium draft cost. The gap is driven less by Kilmer becoming a star elsewhere than by the simple fact that San Francisco obtained a valuable first-round asset while the Colts received almost no enduring production.