The 1999 Marshall Faulk Trade: St. Louis Bought the Engine of the Greatest Show on Turf
The Rams sent Indianapolis second- and fifth-round picks for Marshall Faulk. One season later, Faulk was a record-setting centerpiece of a Super Bowl champion.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- pick 1999 2nd round pick (36th overall, Mike Peterson)
- pick 1999 5th round pick (138th overall, Brad Scioli)
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Marshall Faulk
Trade Summary
The Rams' trade for Marshall Faulk became one of the greatest offensive acquisitions in NFL history. St. Louis paid a modest draft-pick price for a Hall of Fame running back who became the centerpiece of the Greatest Show on Turf. Indianapolis moved a star. The Rams acquired a championship engine. The deal became historic because Faulk did not merely improve the Rams; he helped unlock one of the most famous offenses the league has ever seen.
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
St. Louis acquired Marshall Faulk from Indianapolis in April 1999 for a second-round pick and a fifth-round pick. The Colts used those selections on linebacker Mike Peterson and defensive lineman Brad Scioli. The Rams inserted Faulk into an offense that also added rookie receiver Torry Holt and soon became known as the Greatest Show on Turf.
Why the Rams Were Buying More Than a Running Back
Faulk had already demonstrated that he could run between the tackles, catch at high volume and create explosive plays in space. St. Louis was not simply replacing one ball carrier with another. The Rams were acquiring an offensive matchup piece capable of changing how defenses had to align on every down.
The result exceeded even an optimistic projection. In his first Rams season, Faulk surpassed 1,000 yards both rushing and receiving and set a then-NFL record for yards from scrimmage. St. Louis won Super Bowl XXXIV, and Faulk remained one of the league's defining offensive players through the team's championship window.
What Indianapolis Received
The Colts did not receive meaningless picks. Peterson became a productive NFL linebacker, and Indianapolis was simultaneously transitioning its backfield to Edgerrin James, whom it selected fourth overall in the 1999 draft. That context explains why the Colts were willing to move Faulk despite his talent.
But the return still cannot match what St. Louis acquired. Second- and fifth-round picks represented modest compensation for a player who immediately became a league MVP-level weapon and future Hall of Famer.
Why the Trade Changed an Offense
Faulk's receiving ability made conventional defensive personnel decisions uncomfortable. Linebackers struggled to cover him, while lighter defensive groupings were vulnerable to his rushing ability. His versatility helped turn a talented collection of Rams skill players into a historically efficient system.
Final Verdict
The Rams win overwhelmingly. Indianapolis had a succession plan and received usable draft assets, but St. Louis paid a modest price for the centerpiece of a championship offense and one of the greatest all-purpose running backs in NFL history.