Baltimore and Dallas swapped defensive tackles in July 1964,…
Baltimore and Dallas swapped defensive tackles in July 1964, with Guy Reese going to the Colts and Jim Colvin going to the Cowboys. Player histories place the exchange on July 12. Dallas earns a B+ and Baltimore a C. Colvin supplied multiple seasons of useful line play, while Reese did not create a comparable long-term Colts return. The player-for-player structure was balanced on paper, but the careers after the exchange were not.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- player Jim Colvin / Rocky Colvin
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player Guy Reese
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Baltimore and Dallas swapped defensive tackles in July 1964, with Guy Reese going to the Colts and Jim Colvin going to the Cowboys. Player histories place the exchange on July 12. The exchange made sense as a roster decision for both clubs at the time: Dallas Cowboys received Jim Colvin / Rocky Colvin, while Baltimore Colts received Guy Reese. The historical terms are stated at the level the surviving team and transaction records support, without attaching an uncertain draft choice to a named player when that link is not secure.
What Dallas Cowboys Received
Dallas received Colvin, who stepped into Reese's old left defensive tackle role and played alongside Bob Lilly for three seasons. That gave the Cowboys meaningful continuity and starting value from the swap. For Dallas Cowboys, the grade weighs the immediate role of the acquired asset, how long it remained useful, and whether any draft capital created a later roster return. That keeps the evaluation centered on football value rather than the reputation of the names involved.
What Baltimore Colts Received
Baltimore received Reese, a former NFL All-Rookie selection, but his Colts tenure was much shorter and did not match Colvin's multi-year contribution in Dallas. The swap therefore tilted toward the Cowboys in realized value. For Baltimore Colts, the same standard applies: games played, starting value, later movement, and the practical quality of any selection received. A late pick is not treated like a premium asset, and a veteran who never reached the regular season does not receive credit for value that never materialized.
Final Verdict
Dallas earns a B+ and Baltimore a C. Colvin supplied multiple seasons of useful line play, while Reese did not create a comparable long-term Colts return. The player-for-player structure was balanced on paper, but the careers after the exchange were not. The final grades are Dallas Cowboys B+ and Baltimore Colts C. The verdict is based on the strongest supportable description of the transaction and the career value that followed. That produces a complete historical judgment while keeping the package faithful to what the available football records can actually establish.