Baltimore acquired defensive tackle John Gordon from Detroit…
Baltimore acquired defensive tackle John Gordon from Detroit on August 1, 1973 for the Colts' 1974 tenth-round draft choice. Gordon had appeared in only two NFL games for Detroit in 1972 and never played another NFL regular-season game. Detroit at least recovered a future selection, so the Lions receive a narrow edge despite the modest value of the return.
Detroit Lions Received
- pick 1974 tenth round pick (selection not identified) (pick may have been conditional and not exercised)
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player John Gordon
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Detroit's transaction history lists an August 1, 1973 deal sending defensive tackle John Gordon to Baltimore for the Colts' tenth-round choice in the 1974 draft. Draft-trade material independently lists the same future tenth-round compensation, although the exact selection is not identified. That is enough to establish the basic package without attaching an unsupported player name to Detroit's pick.
What Baltimore Received
Gordon had reached the NFL with Detroit and appeared in two games during the 1972 season. He did not start either contest, and career summaries show no additional NFL regular-season appearances after that year. Baltimore therefore acquired a young defensive lineman with size and developmental appeal, but the move did not produce measurable regular-season playing value for the Colts. That makes it difficult to justify the stronger grade previously attached to Baltimore.
What Detroit Received
The Lions recovered a 1974 tenth-round draft choice. A late-round pick carried limited expected value, and the surviving material does not securely identify which player, if any, Detroit selected with the choice. Even so, a future draft asset is a tangible return for a player who did not subsequently appear in an NFL game. Detroit's advantage is therefore real but small rather than a major personnel victory.
Final Verdict
Detroit gets the narrow hindsight edge because Gordon produced no regular-season value after the trade while the Lions received a usable future selection. The uncertainty surrounding the exact tenth-round outcome prevents a stronger grade. A C+ for Detroit and C for Baltimore reflects a modest win created by asset recovery rather than by a major downstream player result.