Indianapolis Colts Win
The 1987 Eric Dickerson trade was a rare three-team NFL blockbuster involving the Rams, Colts, and Bills. Indianapolis landed a Hall of Fame running back in his prime. Buffalo landed Cornelius Bennett, a major defensive piece for its AFC rise. The Rams received volume, but not enough elite value. Indianapolis gets the narrow top verdict. The page is also a priority indexing candidate because the Eric Dickerson trade remains one of the NFL's most searched historical blockbusters.
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Greg Bell
- player Owen Gill
- pick 1988 1st round pick from Bills, 14th overall, Gaston Green
- pick 1988 2nd round pick from Colts, 47th overall, Fred Strickland
- pick 1989 1st round pick from Bills, 26th overall, Cleveland Gary
- pick 1989 2nd round pick from Colts, 45th overall, Frank Stams
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player Eric Dickerson
Buffalo Bills Received
- other rights to Cornelius Bennett
Trade Analysis
Why the Colts Made the Trade
Indianapolis made the trade because Eric Dickerson was one of the best running backs in football and still had star value. The Colts were not buying a fading name. They were acquiring a Hall of Fame runner who could immediately become the face of the offense.
The cost was large, but the logic was understandable. Players like Dickerson rarely become available in their prime. Indianapolis saw a chance to add a proven superstar instead of waiting for draft picks or developmental players to become something later.
What the Rams Actually Received
The Rams received Greg Bell, Owen Gill, and a major pick package that included high draft capital. That is real volume. In a vacuum, moving one player for that many assets can make sense.
The problem is that the return did not produce enough elite value to match the player leaving. Bell had productive moments, and the picks gave the Rams options, but the package did not become the kind of franchise-shaping haul that makes trading a Hall of Fame back feel justified.
Why Buffalo Also Won
Buffalo's role is one of the reasons this trade is so interesting. The Bills came out with Cornelius Bennett, who became a major defensive piece during the franchise's late-1980s and early-1990s AFC run. Buffalo was not the headline team in the Dickerson portion, but the Bills did very well.
That keeps this from being a simple two-team winner-loser story. Indianapolis got the superstar. Buffalo got a cornerstone defender. The Rams got the bulk package, but the weakest long-term result.
Why the Trade Still Favors Indianapolis
The Colts get the top verdict because Dickerson remained highly productive in Indianapolis and gave the franchise the elite individual player in the deal. In a three-team blockbuster, the best outcome does not always belong to the team with the most assets. Sometimes it belongs to the team that gets the rarest player.
Indianapolis did not turn the move into a dynasty, which prevents this from being an A+ grade. But the Colts still acquired the player whose value defines the transaction.
Why This Trade Still Matters
This trade still matters because it is one of the great examples of a complicated NFL mega-deal. It was not just a star-for-picks swap. It included three teams, multiple franchise directions, a Hall of Fame running back, and a future defensive centerpiece in Buffalo.
It also belongs in the GSC priority group because the Eric Dickerson trade remains one of the easiest historical trade queries for NFL fans to search.
The three-team structure is what keeps this trade historically important. It was not only about Dickerson leaving Los Angeles. It also shaped Buffalo's defensive core through Bennett and showed how one superstar move could redirect several franchises at once.
Final Verdict
Indianapolis wins the headline because it acquired Eric Dickerson in his prime. Buffalo also did very well by landing Cornelius Bennett. The Rams received volume but not enough elite value. Colts grade: A. Bills grade: A-. Rams grade: D.