Los Angeles received five seasons of elite linebacker play…
Los Angeles received five seasons of elite linebacker play from Maxie Baughan: 65 games, 63 starts, 11 interceptions and four straight Pro Bowls from 1966 through 1969. Philadelphia's return was much thinner. Frank Molden started six games, Fred Brown appeared in 26 after missing 1966, and probable pick No. 68 Harry Wilson played only six games. The Rams' A-to-C win is supported by the actual production.
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Maxie Baughan
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- player Frank Molden
- player Fred Brown
- pick 1967 draft pick (possibly #68-Harry Wilson)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Philadelphia sent linebacker Maxie Baughan to Los Angeles in 1966 for Frank Molden, Fred Brown and a 1967 draft choice. The pick trail is not labeled absolutely certain in historical transaction databases, but it is strongly corroborated as Rams third-rounder No. 68, used by Philadelphia on Harry Wilson. Contemporary reporting, Rams history and Eagles draft notes all point to that same selection.
Los Angeles Rams Return
Baughan became the transaction's defining asset. Pro Football Reference credits him with 65 Rams games and 63 starts from 1966 through 1970, along with 11 interceptions. He made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four Los Angeles seasons, from 1966 through 1969. That is not merely name value after a trade; it is five years of high-end, near-every-week starting production for the team that acquired him.
Philadelphia Eagles Return
Philadelphia received several usable pieces, but none approached that impact. Molden did not play for the Eagles until 1968, when he appeared in 13 games and started six. Brown missed the entire 1966 season after knee surgery, then appeared in 26 games from 1967 through 1969 and intercepted two passes in 1967. Wilson, the player tied to the probable No. 68 pick, played only six Eagles games with two starts, four carries for seven yards and three catches for 26.
Value in Hindsight
The Eagles therefore did receive real roster value, which keeps their return out of failing territory. But the package was fragmented and short-lived compared with Baughan's sustained excellence. Even if the Wilson pick is treated cautiously because the historical chain is listed as probable rather than absolute, the outcome gap remains enormous: the Rams acquired a defensive captain and perennial Pro Bowler, while Philadelphia received limited service from three pieces.
Final Verdict
The existing Rams-win verdict stands, as do the A and C grades. The specificity is what changes. Los Angeles can point to 65 games, 63 starts, 11 interceptions and four Rams Pro Bowls. Philadelphia can point to six Molden starts, 26 Brown appearances and six Wilson games. Those concrete results make the Rams' victory clear without leaning on reputation or generic trade-value language.