Baltimore acquired quarterback Gary Kerkorian from Los…
Baltimore acquired quarterback Gary Kerkorian from Los Angeles for the 1955 tenth-round pick that became Jesse Arnelle. Kerkorian started 10 games for the 1954 Colts and threw for 1,515 yards, giving the young franchise meaningful quarterback service. Arnelle was selected by the Rams but did not produce comparable NFL value, making Baltimore the clear beneficiary.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player Gary Kerkorian
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick 1955 tenth round pick (#112-Jesse Arnelle)
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
The July 1954 deal gave Baltimore a veteran quarterback option while Los Angeles chose to take future draft capital. Draft histories connect the Rams' 1955 tenth-round selection, No. 112, to the Kerkorian trade. For an early Baltimore Colts roster still trying to establish itself, adding a passer with professional experience had obvious short-term appeal, while the Rams were betting that a late-round choice could produce more future value.
What Baltimore Colts Received
Baltimore received Gary Kerkorian and used him extensively in 1954. Pro Football Archives lists him as a 10-game starter, and NFL statistics credit him with 1,515 passing yards that season. The Colts were not a winning club, but Kerkorian supplied legitimate starting-quarterback innings and gave the franchise stability during a transitional year. That is meaningful return for a player acquired for a tenth-round selection.
What Los Angeles Rams Received
Los Angeles received the future No. 112 choice and selected Jesse Arnelle of Penn State. The pick appears in the Rams' 1955 draft class, but Arnelle did not go on to establish comparable NFL value. The Rams therefore realized little from the future asset even though the transaction itself was a reasonable attempt to convert a surplus player into draft capital.
Final Verdict
Indianapolis Colts Win. Baltimore obtained a starting quarterback for most of a season at the cost of a late-round pick that did not become a meaningful Rams contributor. Kerkorian was not a franchise solution, so the Colts stop at B+, but the practical value gap is clear. Los Angeles receives a D+ because the acquired selection produced almost no NFL return for the club.
Gary Kerkorian started ten games and threw for 1,515 yards for Baltimore in 1954, while the Rams' tenth-round return on Jesse Arnelle produced no comparable professional contribution after the exchange.