Cleveland received Rich Dimler at No. 124 and Jim Ronan at…
Cleveland received Rich Dimler at No. 124 and Jim Ronan at No. 163. Dimler played 12 games with two starts for the Browns in 1979, while Ronan never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. Los Angeles got no Rams games from Oscar Roan, but No. 122 Victor Hicks became a 14-game starter in 1980 with 23 catches, 318 yards and three touchdowns. The Rams keep the B-to-C win.
Cleveland Browns Received
- pick 1979 fifth round pick (#124-Rich Dimler)
- pick 1979 sixth round pick (#163-Jim Ronan)
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Oscar Roan
- pick 1979 fifth round pick (#122-Victor Hicks)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Cleveland and Los Angeles exchanged late-round assets in March 1979. The Rams received tight end Oscar Roan and the Browns' fifth-round selection, No. 122, while Cleveland received Los Angeles' No. 124 fifth-rounder and No. 163 sixth-rounder. The picks became Victor Hicks for the Rams, Rich Dimler for the Browns and Jim Ronan for Cleveland, giving the trade four identifiable outcomes.
Cleveland Browns Return
Cleveland got a short stint from Dimler. He appeared in 12 Browns games in 1979 and started two before continuing his career elsewhere. Ronan did not create regular-season value; Cleveland's draft record shows the selection, but his NFL regular-season career never materialized. That leaves the Browns with one year of reserve offensive-line service from their two incoming draft choices.
Los Angeles Rams Return
Roan supplied no regular-season value for Los Angeles after the trade; his NFL statistical record ends with Cleveland in 1978. Hicks was the productive Rams asset. He spent 1979 on injured reserve, then played all 16 games in 1980 and started 14 at tight end. Hicks caught 23 passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns and added one 19-yard rushing attempt during that season.
Value in Hindsight
Neither package became a long-term foundation piece. The Rams effectively got one productive season from Hicks and nothing from Roan, while Cleveland got one reserve season from Dimler and nothing from Ronan. The difference is role: Hicks started 14 games and contributed as a receiver, whereas Dimler started only twice. That supports a Rams advantage without inflating a one-season return into an elite grade.
Final Verdict
Los Angeles Rams Win, with Los Angeles at B and Cleveland at C. Hicks' 14 starts, 318 receiving yards and three touchdowns are the transaction's strongest realized production. Cleveland receives credit for Dimler's 12 appearances, but Ronan's zero games and the limited starting value keep the Browns a tier below.