Baltimore sent its 1964 third-round pick to Dallas for…
Baltimore sent its 1964 third-round pick to Dallas for running back J.W. Lockett. Colts materials confirm the third-rounder went to the Cowboys and note that Dallas later dealt the selection, but the surviving draft histories do not cleanly establish which player should be credited to this exact transaction. Lockett gave Baltimore one season of modest production, making the realized value on both sides fairly limited.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- pick 1964 third round pick
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player J.W. Lockett
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Did
Baltimore acquired running back J.W. Lockett from Dallas and sent the Cowboys its third-round choice in the 1964 NFL draft. Colts materials are clear on that basic exchange and explicitly say Dallas later dealt the pick. The important correction is to stop attaching Ode Burrell to this transaction as though the downstream path were settled. Contemporary team histories point in conflicting directions on the identity of that particular selection.
Why Baltimore Got Some Use
Lockett did provide real service. In 1963 he carried 81 times for 273 yards and caught 16 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown. That was not star production, but it was tangible work for a Colts team that used him as part of its backfield rotation. Baltimore then traded Lockett to Washington the next year, so the player also retained some exchange value beyond his lone Colts season.
How Dallas Kept a Draft Asset
Dallas received a third-rounder rather than a player, which gave the Cowboys flexibility. The Colts' own history says Dallas subsequently moved the pick. Because the later path is disputed, the fairest assessment stops at the asset Dallas actually received instead of awarding the Cowboys credit for a player who cannot be tied securely to this deal. A third-round choice still represented meaningful capital in a 14-team league.
Final Verdict
This is an Even Trade at C/C. Baltimore got one season of useful but limited backfield production, while Dallas received a third-round asset it later moved. Neither side produced a clearly superior lasting payoff from the exchange itself. Keeping the judgment modest also avoids overstating a downstream draft lineage that the surviving team histories do not agree on.