Indianapolis acquired rookie defensive end Ryan LaCasse from…
Indianapolis acquired rookie defensive end Ryan LaCasse from Baltimore for a 2008 seventh-round pick shortly before the 2006 season, a low-cost exchange centered on depth and special teams. Neither side gained a cornerstone. Indianapolis received short-term depth on a title team, while Baltimore recouped a future late-round choice, making the exchange essentially balanced.
Baltimore Ravens Received
- pick 2008 7th round pick
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player Ryan LaCasse
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Indianapolis acquired rookie defensive end Ryan LaCasse from Baltimore for a 2008 seventh-round pick shortly before the 2006 season, a low-cost exchange centered on depth and special teams. At the time, each club had a practical roster reason for acting, and the price was small enough or targeted enough to make the exchange understandable before the later results were known.
What the Returns Produced
LaCasse appeared for the Colts during their Super Bowl championship season and contributed mainly on special teams, giving Indianapolis immediate but limited roster value. Baltimore recovered a future seventh-round selection for a player it had drafted in the seventh round only months earlier, preserving comparable low-end draft value. Looking only at the names exchanged on the transaction date misses part of the story, because actual playing time, role, longevity and any later use of draft capital determine how much football value each side ultimately created.
How the Value Developed
Neither side gained a cornerstone. Indianapolis received short-term depth on a title team, while Baltimore recouped a future late-round choice, making the exchange essentially balanced. The longer view matters most here: a short burst of production can still justify a modest acquisition cost, while a draft choice can become more valuable when it is converted into a durable starter or additional selections.
Why This Trade Still Matters
This deal is a useful reminder that trade value should follow the complete return rather than stop at the first transaction line. Later pick movement, roster tenure and meaningful postseason or starting contributions all belong in the comparison. That approach gives both teams credit for what their assets actually became instead of grading only the original labels.
Final Verdict
Even Trade is the best fit. Baltimore Ravens earns a C, while Indianapolis Colts earns a C. Those marks account for the cost paid, the direct production received, the length of each contribution and any important downstream draft value. The gap is intentionally narrow when both sides found useful returns and wider when one club received little lasting football value.