Baltimore traded veteran defensive lineman Andy Stynchula to…
Baltimore traded veteran defensive lineman Andy Stynchula to Dallas on December 18, 1968, for receiver Sims Stokes and a 1969 fifth-round pick, No. 127. Stokes never played a regular-season game for the Colts, but Baltimore later packaged the acquired pick with another selection to obtain guard Dan Grimm from Atlanta. Dallas received only a brief Stynchula tenure, so the Colts' reusable draft capital gives them the edge.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- player Andy Stynchula
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player Sims Stokes
- pick 1969 fifth round pick (#127) [later traded with 1969 fourth round pick (#103-Dickie Lyons) to Atlanta Falcons for Dan Grimm]
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
On December 18, 1968, Baltimore sent defensive lineman Andy Stynchula to Dallas for wide receiver Sims Stokes and a 1969 fifth-round pick, No. 127. The Colts' historical transaction list records the package and adds an important downstream detail: Baltimore later included that fifth-rounder in the deal that brought guard Dan Grimm from Atlanta. Stokes had been a 1967 sixth-round pick of the Cowboys.
What Baltimore Got
Stokes did not become a regular-season contributor for the Colts, so the player portion of Baltimore's return produced little direct value. The fifth-round pick was more useful. Instead of simply spending it, Baltimore combined No. 127 with a fourth-round selection in January 1969 to acquire Grimm. That ability to recycle the acquired draft capital into another veteran gave the Colts a second path to value after Stokes failed to make an impact.
What Dallas Got
Dallas obtained an experienced defensive lineman who had been a full-time starter earlier in his career. By late 1968, however, Stynchula was near the end of his playing days. His Cowboys tenure was short and did not create the kind of multi-year return that would justify clearly winning the exchange. Dallas gave up a fringe receiver plus a fifth-round pick for a temporary veteran addition.
Final Verdict
Baltimore earns a slight win because the fifth-round asset remained useful after Stokes provided no direct return. The Colts were able to fold that pick into the later Grimm acquisition, while Dallas received only a brief Stynchula stint. A B- for Baltimore and C for Dallas capture that modest edge without overstating a transaction in which neither original player became a major long-term piece.