Pittsburgh acquired linebacker Ralph Felton from Washington…
Pittsburgh acquired linebacker Ralph Felton from Washington in 1958, but the Steelers released him before the season was complete. Felton therefore provided only a short-lived return before Washington signed him back. The Steelers did not secure lasting value from the acquisition, while Washington regained Felton and also held the seventh-round pick received in the trade, supporting a D+ grade for Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- player Ralph Felton / Razz Felton
Washington Commanders Received
- pick 1959 seventh round pick (#79-Mitch Ogiego)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1958-07-10, Pittsburgh Steelers received Ralph Felton / Razz Felton, while Washington Commanders received 1959 seventh round pick (#79-Mitch Ogiego). The deal can be judged by the value each franchise actually controlled after the exchange: direct playing time, useful roster service, and clearly documented movement of any draft choice. Those later results provide the basis for comparing the two returns.
Pittsburgh Steelers Return
Pittsburgh acquired linebacker Ralph Felton from Washington in 1958, but the Steelers released him before the season was complete. Felton therefore provided only a short-lived return before Washington signed him back. The Steelers did not secure lasting value from the acquisition, while Washington regained Felton and also held the seventh-round pick received in the trade, supporting a D+ grade for Pittsburgh. The grade reflects the actual usefulness of that return rather than the reputation or theoretical value attached to the asset on the day of the deal.
Washington Commanders Return
Washington received the 1959 seventh-round pick used on Mitch Ogiego and later signed Ralph Felton back after Pittsburgh released him. Felton appeared in eight games with seven starts for Washington in 1958 and remained with the club afterward, while Ogiego never played an NFL regular-season game. Regaining the useful veteran while retaining the draft return gives Washington the stronger outcome and a C+ grade. The same standard applies to this side: tangible playing value and clearly retained draft capital matter more than an eventual selection made by a different franchise.
Value in Hindsight
The unusual part of this exchange is what happened after the initial trade. Pittsburgh acquired Felton but did not retain him, and Washington soon brought him back into a meaningful role. The draft choice itself produced little, yet Washington effectively ended up with both the original pick return and renewed service from Felton. That sequence creates a modest but clear advantage for Washington.
Final Verdict
The final call is Washington Commanders Win. Pittsburgh Steelers earns D+, and Washington Commanders earns C+. Those grades reflect the supported package and the relative football value each side realized, while keeping later draft movement in the proper franchise context.