Baltimore acquired Tom Cosgrove from Cleveland in July 1953…
Baltimore acquired Tom Cosgrove from Cleveland in July 1953 for a 1954 sixth-round draft choice. The Browns used that No. 64 selection on guard Jim Ray Smith, who became a five-time Pro Bowler and long-term Cleveland starter. Cosgrove gave the Colts roster service, but the late-round pick developed into an elite lineman, making Cleveland the overwhelming winner.
Cleveland Browns Received
- pick 1954 sixth round pick (#64- Jim Ray Smith )
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player Tom Cosgrove
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
The July 1953 exchange was a straightforward player-for-future-pick deal. Baltimore was assembling its new roster and took Tom Cosgrove, while Cleveland accepted a sixth-round selection in the following draft. Draft-transaction histories identify that choice as No. 64 in 1954, the pick the Browns used on Baylor guard Jim Ray Smith. What looked like modest future capital became the defining asset in hindsight.
What Cleveland Browns Received
Cleveland selected Jim Ray Smith and received extraordinary value for a sixth-round choice. Smith developed into a long-term starting guard, earned five Pro Bowl selections and became recognized as one of the strongest linemen of his era. His career included sustained high-level play for Cleveland before later time elsewhere. Finding that caliber of player at No. 64 transformed an ordinary transaction into a major historical win.
What Baltimore Colts Received
Baltimore received Tom Cosgrove, who did provide professional roster value. Colts historical materials place him with the club, and he was part of the young franchise's early line group. That service keeps Baltimore above a failing grade. The problem is comparative scale: a useful player acquired in 1953 cannot approach the value of a multi-time Pro Bowl guard produced by the pick sent away.
Final Verdict
Cleveland Browns Win. The Browns earn an A+ because the sixth-round pick became Jim Ray Smith, a five-time Pro Bowler and major long-term starter. Baltimore earns a C+ for receiving legitimate service from Cosgrove, but the opportunity cost proved enormous. This is exactly the type of trade where a seemingly ordinary future choice becomes decisive only after the selected player's career unfolds.
Tom Cosgrove gave Baltimore roster service after the 1953 trade, while Cleveland turned the future sixth-round choice into Jim Ray Smith, a five-time Pro Bowler and long-term starting guard for the Browns.