Detroit traded wide receiver Tracy Porter to Baltimore on…
Detroit traded wide receiver Tracy Porter to Baltimore on August 29, 1983 for a 1984 late-round choice that became No. 259, William Frizzell. Porter immediately caught 28 passes for 384 yards in 1983, then added 39 receptions for 590 yards in 1984. Frizzell played 24 games for Detroit without a start before building more of his career elsewhere, giving the Colts the better team-specific return.
Detroit Lions Received
- pick 1984 tenth round pick (#259-William Frizzell)
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player Tracy Porter (Randolph)
Trade Analysis
Why Baltimore Added Porter
The Colts acquired wide receiver Tracy Porter from Detroit during final roster moves on August 29, 1983. Contemporary reporting confirms the player-for-pick trade, while draft records trace the compensation to the late 1984 selection used on William Frizzell. Baltimore was seeking immediate receiving help rather than a long-term developmental project.
What the Colts Received
Porter contributed right away. He caught 28 passes for 384 yards in 1983, then improved to 39 receptions for 590 yards in 1984. Across those two seasons he produced 67 catches and 974 yards, with 19 combined starts. That is solid short-term output for a receiver obtained for a late-round future pick.
How Detroit Fared
Detroit selected Frizzell with the acquired choice. The Lions' historical material describes the compensation as an eleventh-round pick, while the actual 1984 draft slot, No. 259, falls in the tenth round. Frizzell played 24 games for Detroit without a start. He later built a much longer NFL career elsewhere, but that later production did not directly benefit the Lions.
Why the Colts Win
The trade should be graded on what each acquiring team actually received. Baltimore gained nearly 1,000 receiving yards over two seasons. Detroit got roster depth but no starts from the drafted player before his career continued elsewhere. The difference is meaningful without being enormous.
Final Verdict
The Colts earn a B and Detroit a C. Porter delivered useful immediate offense at a small cost, while Frizzell's Detroit tenure was limited. The Lions did receive an NFL player from the pick, which keeps their grade respectable, but Baltimore realized more value.