Indianapolis acquired linebacker Rocky Calmus from Tennessee…
Indianapolis acquired linebacker Rocky Calmus from Tennessee on September 3, 2005 for a conditional 2006 seventh-round pick that became No. 238 overall. Colts trade history identifies the exact selection. Calmus did not develop into a meaningful regular-season contributor for Indianapolis, so the move produced little direct on-field return even though the acquisition cost was only a late-round choice.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player Rocky Calmus
Tennessee Titans Received
- pick Conditional 2006 7th round pick (238th overall; later traded back to Indianapolis)
Trade Analysis
Clarifying the Compensation
Contemporary summaries described the Rocky Calmus trade as involving an undisclosed pick, but Indianapolis' official trade history identifies the compensation as a conditional 2006 seventh-round selection. The pick became No. 238 overall. That distinction matters because it establishes the actual cost and allows the transaction to be graded without treating the consideration as unknown.
Indianapolis' Side
The Colts were adding experienced linebacker depth before the 2005 season. The cost was modest, but Calmus did not become a meaningful regular-season contributor for Indianapolis. The trade therefore did not create the kind of inexpensive veteran payoff the Colts were seeking, even though a seventh-round price limited the downside.
Tennessee's Pick
The Titans received the No. 238 asset and later traded it back to Indianapolis in a separate deal. Because Tennessee did not ultimately make the selection, the Titans cannot be credited with T.J. Rushing, whom the Colts eventually drafted at No. 238. The correct value is the draft capital itself and Tennessee's ability to reuse it in another transaction.
Comparing the Outcomes
Indianapolis paid little but received little. Tennessee moved a player it was prepared to part with and obtained a late-round asset that retained trade value. That is not a major win, but it is a cleaner return than the Colts' limited player outcome.
Final Verdict
Tennessee Titans Win, narrowly. Tennessee earns a B-minus for converting Calmus into usable draft capital and later redeploying the pick. Indianapolis earns a C because the acquisition cost was low but the player did not become an important contributor. The Titans' advantage is modest and rests on preserving value rather than producing a star.
Indianapolis received little regular-season value from Rocky Calmus, while Tennessee at least preserved a usable late-round draft asset that it later moved in another transaction later on for future use.