Minnesota acquired the rights to tackle Larry Kramer from the…
Minnesota acquired the rights to tackle Larry Kramer from the Baltimore Colts on January 28, 1965, sending linebacker John Campbell and its 1966 eighth-round pick. That selection became No. 120 and was used on Jerry Allen. None of the pieces produced a major long-term advantage, leaving the exchange reasonably balanced in hindsight.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player John Campbell
- pick 1966 eighth round pick (#120- Jerry Allen )
Minnesota Vikings Received
- other rights to Larry Kramer
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Minnesota acquired the rights to offensive tackle Larry Kramer from Baltimore on January 28, 1965. The Vikings sent linebacker John Campbell and their 1966 eighth-round draft choice in return. That pick became No. 120 and was used on Jerry Allen. Vikings draft history specifically notes that Minnesota had no eighth-round choice in 1966 because it had been traded to Baltimore for Kramer.
Minnesota Vikings Return
Kramer was the reason Minnesota made the move: the Vikings were buying negotiating rights to an established football name rather than another future selection. The payoff never became a defining piece of Minnesota’s roster. The rights had value, but the resulting Viking contribution was not large enough to make surrendering both a player and a future draft choice look like a bargain.
Indianapolis Colts Return
Baltimore received two avenues of value. Campbell was an NFL linebacker who could be moved or used, and the future eighth-round selection became Jerry Allen. Allen did not become a major Colts star, so the pick did not transform the franchise. The Colts nevertheless converted a set of rights into a veteran asset plus an additional draft chance.
Value in Hindsight
This is a useful example of how rights trades differ from ordinary player-for-player deals. Minnesota was paying for control and opportunity, while Baltimore accepted tangible roster and draft assets. Because neither Kramer’s Minnesota outcome nor the Colts’ returns created a sustained competitive advantage, there is little basis for a strong winning grade on either side.
Final Verdict
An even trade remains appropriate. Both clubs receive B- grades because the exchange was coherent and each side obtained something useful, but neither extracted enduring high-end value. The Colts’ two-piece return adds quantity; Minnesota’s side had the upside of acquiring Kramer’s rights. The historical results never created enough separation to move the verdict away from even.