Green Bay sent veteran end Stretch Elliott and a 1956 draft…
Green Bay sent veteran end Stretch Elliott and a 1956 draft choice to Los Angeles for tackle Tom Dahms in August 1955. Dahms immediately solved a major offensive-line shortage and started all 12 games for the Packers that season. The Rams turned the pick into A.D. Williams and received Elliott, but Green Bay got the most dependable immediate value.
Green Bay Packers Received
- player Tom Dahms
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Carlton Elliott / Stretch Elliott
- pick 1956 third round pick (#32- A.D. Williams )
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Green Bay's offensive line was in trouble during 1955 training camp. Contemporary Packers reporting described military losses, injuries and departures that left the club badly short at tackle. Coach Liz Blackbourn responded by sending Stretch Elliott and an undisclosed 1956 draft choice to Los Angeles for veteran tackle Tom Dahms. The trade was reported on August 4 after being completed the prior night, which aligns with the existing August 3 transaction date.
What Green Bay Packers Received
Green Bay received exactly the kind of immediate help it needed. Pro Football Archives lists Dahms as the Packers' starting right offensive tackle in all 12 games of the 1955 season, and game lineups repeatedly place him at that spot. His value was practical rather than glamorous: a team with a depleted line obtained a proven starter and stabilized a position that had become a camp emergency.
What Los Angeles Rams Received
Los Angeles received veteran end Stretch Elliott and the future third-round choice used on A.D. Williams at No. 32 in the 1956 draft. Williams did reach the NFL and appeared in 37 career games, so the draft asset was not wasted. The Rams therefore earned a respectable return, especially because they converted an established tackle into both a veteran and a future player.
Final Verdict
Green Bay Packers Win. The Rams collected two real assets and deserve a B-, but the Packers solved an urgent lineup problem with a player who immediately started every game at right tackle. Dahms' direct, full-season contribution carries more weight than the moderate long-term return from Elliott and Williams. Green Bay earns a B+ for acquiring dependable starting help exactly when the roster needed it most.
Dahms's immediate starting role gave Green Bay more direct value than Los Angeles's two-asset return overall.