Minnesota acquired defensive lineman Bob Denton from…
Minnesota acquired defensive lineman Bob Denton from Cleveland for its 1962 tenth-round selection, No. 129 overall. Denton became a useful early Viking, appearing in 56 games from 1961 through 1964 and starting nine. Cleveland used the pick on center Jerry Goerlitz, who did not play a regular-season NFL game. The transaction was modest in scale, but Minnesota clearly received the better realized return.
Cleveland Browns Received
- pick 1962 tenth round pick (#129-Jerry Goerlitz)
Minnesota Vikings Received
- player Bob Denton
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Did
Minnesota acquired Bob Denton from Cleveland in May 1961, months before the Vikings played their first regular-season game. The Browns received Minnesota's tenth-round choice in the 1962 NFL draft, No. 129 overall, and used it on center Jerry Goerlitz. For an expansion team trying to build an NFL-caliber roster quickly, the price was small: one future late-round selection for an experienced defensive lineman.
Why Denton Helped an Expansion Team
Denton had already played for Cleveland in 1960 and immediately became part of Minnesota's inaugural roster. He appeared in all 14 games in 1961 and remained with the Vikings through 1964. Across those four seasons he played 56 games and started nine, providing useful depth and continuity on the defensive front while the young franchise assembled the core that would eventually become a contender.
What Cleveland Received
Goerlitz represented a reasonable late-round lottery ticket. Cleveland drafted him 129th overall, signed him, and later released him without a regular-season NFL appearance. That outcome left the Browns with no realized game value from the selection. The cost was not severe because tenth-round picks were long shots, but Cleveland still surrendered a player who went on to provide Minnesota four seasons of service.
Final Verdict
Minnesota wins with a B- because the Vikings turned a tenth-round pick into 56 games from a useful early roster piece. Cleveland earns a D+ because the acquired selection produced no regular-season games. This was not a blockbuster and Denton was not a star, so the grades stay moderate, but the actual football return clearly favors Minnesota over an unproductive late-round choice.