Minnesota sent Tommy Mason, Hal Bedsole and its 1967…
Minnesota sent Tommy Mason, Hal Bedsole and its 1967 second-round pick to Los Angeles for Marlin McKeever and the Rams' first-round choice. The Vikings used No. 15 on Alan Page, who became an NFL MVP, Hall of Famer and centerpiece of the Purple People Eaters. McKeever also started for Minnesota before helping bring Paul Krause in another trade, creating extraordinary compounded value.
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Hal Bedsole
- player Tommy Mason
- pick 1967 second round pick (#33-Willie Ellison)
Minnesota Vikings Received
- player Marlin McKeever
- pick 1967 first round pick (#15-Alan Page)
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
During the 1967 draft, Minnesota sent running back Tommy Mason, end Hal Bedsole and its second-round pick to Los Angeles. The Rams returned tight end-linebacker Marlin McKeever and the No. 15 overall selection. Minnesota immediately used that first-round choice on Notre Dame defensive lineman Alan Page, while Los Angeles used No. 33 on Willie Ellison.
Why Alan Page Makes the Result Historic
Page became one of the greatest players in Vikings history. He anchored the Purple People Eaters, won the 1971 NFL Most Valuable Player award, earned repeated All-Pro honors and entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988. A non-quarterback winning league MVP illustrates the scale of his dominance. Minnesota acquired that career with a pick obtained directly in this trade.
How McKeever Added Another Layer
McKeever gave Minnesota one season of useful tight end play, then became part of the 1968 trade with Washington for safety Paul Krause, another future Hall of Famer. That downstream conversion means the Vikings did not merely receive Page; the secondary asset also helped produce another cornerstone of their championship-era defense. Los Angeles received respectable value from Mason and the second-round pick, but nothing on that scale.
Final Verdict
Minnesota wins overwhelmingly. The Vikings transformed Mason, Bedsole and a second-rounder into Alan Page plus a player who later helped acquire Paul Krause. The Rams received useful pieces, but the historical gap is enormous. An A+ for Minnesota and D for Los Angeles reflects one of the most consequential draft-day trades in franchise history.