Baltimore acquired center Fred Hoaglin from Cleveland on…
Baltimore acquired center Fred Hoaglin from Cleveland on January 25, 1973, for Kansas City’s third-round pick, No. 67 overall, which the Browns used on defensive end Bob Crum. Hoaglin appeared in all 14 games for the Colts that season, while Crum never played a regular-season game for Cleveland. The deal produced modest value, but Baltimore realized more of it.
Cleveland Browns Received
- pick 1973 third round pick (#67-Bob Crum)
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player Fred Hoaglin
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Fred Hoaglin had been a long-time Cleveland center, including a Pro Bowl season in 1969, but his starting role had diminished by 1972. Baltimore added the veteran on January 25, 1973. Pro Football Archives gives that date, and Cleveland’s official draft history confirms the compensation: Kansas City’s third-round choice, held by Baltimore, went to the Browns for Hoaglin and became the 67th overall pick.
What Baltimore Received
Hoaglin gave the Colts dependable depth for one season. He appeared in all 14 regular-season games in 1973 and made one start. That was not star-level production, and Baltimore moved him to Houston in 1974, but he was available every week for a rebuilding club. For a team surrendering a mid-third-round asset, the return was limited but concrete: a veteran center who contributed throughout the entire season.
What Cleveland Received
The Browns used No. 67 on Arizona defensive end Bob Crum. Crum did reach the NFL, but not with Cleveland. Pro Football Reference lists his entire regular-season career as 14 games for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1974, with no starts. Cleveland therefore received a legitimate draft asset but failed to convert it into on-field Browns production. The pick itself had more theoretical upside than Hoaglin’s one-year role, yet the realized return was effectively zero.
Final Verdict
Baltimore Colts Win. Baltimore gets a B- for receiving a full season of usable veteran depth, while Cleveland gets a C- because the third-round pick did not produce a regular-season contributor for the Browns. This was not a franchise-changing trade, and Hoaglin started only once, so the margin should remain modest. In hindsight, though, 14 games of actual service beat a draft choice that yielded no Cleveland regular-season value.