Tampa Bay Buccaneers received Reese McCall;…
Tampa Bay Buccaneers received Reese McCall; Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts received conditional 1984 seventh-round pick that did not convey. Tampa Bay waived McCall before the 1983 regular season, and Detroit claimed him two days later. The Colts' conditional seventh-round compensation did not convey, leaving Baltimore with no realized draft asset. The realized outcomes support Even Trade, with Tampa Bay Buccaneers graded C and Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts graded C.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- pick 1984 conditional seventh round pick (not exercised)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Received
- player Reese McCall
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1983-08-18, Tampa Bay Buccaneers received Reese McCall, while Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts received conditional 1984 seventh-round pick that did not convey. The package is documented well enough to evaluate what each club actually realized rather than relying on generic descriptions or the nominal value of a pick.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Return
Tampa Bay acquired McCall on August 18, 1983, but cut him in the final August roster reduction. Detroit claimed him off waivers on August 31, so he never played a regular-season game for the Buccaneers. That is the relevant football outcome for Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The C grade is based on games, starts, production, roster tenure and the actual disposition of the acquired asset rather than its perceived value on the transaction date.
Baltimore Colts Return
The Colts' official transaction history lists the return as a conditional 1984 seventh-round choice. The condition was not exercised, so Baltimore received no draft selection from the deal. That result supports the C grade for Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts. When a draft choice is involved, the selected player's team-specific contribution matters; production for another club later in the player's career is not credited back to the original receiver.
Value in Hindsight
The important distinction is between acquiring an asset and actually receiving football value from it. Tampa Bay Buccaneers gets credit only for what Reese McCall produced for that franchise, while Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts is evaluated the same way for conditional 1984 seventh-round pick that did not convey. This makes the comparison concrete and prevents later-career production, unexercised conditions or unsupported pick assumptions from inflating either side.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Tampa Bay receives C and Baltimore/Indianapolis receives C. Tampa Bay waived McCall before the regular season, while the Colts' conditional 1984 seventh-round choice did not convey. Neither side realized regular-season football value from the asset it was supposed to receive.