Green Bay acquired Rick Nuzum from the Rams in August 1978…
Green Bay acquired Rick Nuzum from the Rams in August 1978 for one 1980 fifth-round pick that became No. 116. Nuzum offered the Packers immediate roster depth but did not develop into a major long-term return. The Rams later moved No. 116 to Cleveland, which selected Elvis Franks, but that later transaction is downstream history. The direct exchange produced little separation.
Green Bay Packers Received
- player Rick Nuzum (Frederick Merril Nuzum)
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick 1980 fifth-round pick (No. 116)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Green Bay acquired Rick Nuzum from the Rams on August 15, 1978 for a 1980 fifth-round pick that became No. 116. The direct deal contains one player and one draft selection. An additional unidentified pick is not supported strongly enough to belong in the direct package and should not be added to the exchange.
Green Bay Packers Return
Nuzum gave the Packers an immediate roster option without requiring a premium selection. For a fifth-round cost, the acquisition was a reasonable attempt to buy useful depth. In hindsight, however, Nuzum did not become a major long-term Green Bay contributor. The Packers received a real player, but the practical return remained limited and does not justify a strong winning grade.
Los Angeles Rams Return
The Rams received No. 116 in the 1980 draft, giving them future flexibility for a player they were prepared to move. Los Angeles later traded that selection to Cleveland in a separate draft transaction. Cleveland eventually used the pick on Elvis Franks, but Franks therefore belongs to the later chain rather than to the Rams' direct return from Green Bay. The Rams' direct asset was the pick itself.
Value in Hindsight
The trade produced modest value on both sides. Green Bay got immediate depth; Los Angeles got a mid-to-late future selection. Neither side directly converted its return into a player or asset valuable enough to create meaningful separation. Removing the unsupported extra pick and keeping later movement of No. 116 in the proper sequence makes the balance clearer.
Final Verdict
Green Bay and Los Angeles each receive a C. The transaction is an Even Trade because both teams received legitimate but limited value, with no direct outcome strong enough to establish a winner.