New York acquired defensive lineman Max Messner from Detroit…
New York acquired defensive lineman Max Messner from Detroit in August 1964. The return is traceable to Detroit receiving the 1965 fifth-round selection at No. 57, used on Tommy Vaughn. Messner provided the Giants with veteran depth, while the Lions converted the deal into a draft choice, leaving the exchange close enough to grade as essentially even.
Detroit Lions Received
- pick 1965 fifth-round pick (No. 57, Tommy Vaughn)
New York Giants Received
- player Max Messner
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Detroit sent veteran defensive lineman Max Messner to New York on August 19, 1964. The surviving draft-transfer history connects the return to the Giants' 1965 fifth-round choice, No. 57 overall, which Detroit used on Tommy Vaughn. That gives the transaction a complete player-for-pick structure and removes the uncertainty that had obscured the actual exchange.
New York Giants Return
Messner gave New York an experienced defensive-line option rather than a developmental prospect. His Giants stay did not become a major long-term chapter, but the club acquired an established NFL player for a mid-to-late draft choice. At that price, the value was practical roster depth and immediate experience, even if the move did not create a lasting cornerstone.
Detroit Lions Return
Detroit chose future defensive back Tommy Vaughn with the acquired fifth-round selection. Vaughn's broader pro career did not produce enough value to make this a runaway result for the Lions, yet Detroit at least converted a movable veteran into a concrete draft asset. That is a reasonable return for a player whose remaining value was unlikely to alter the franchise's direction.
Value in Hindsight
The trade is more interesting for its clarified terms than for a dramatic winner. New York received usable veteran help, and Detroit recovered a real selection that became Vaughn. Neither outcome created a large surplus over the price paid. With both sides receiving legitimate but modest value, the historical balance stays near the middle rather than tilting sharply in either direction.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. New York earns a C for obtaining a veteran contributor at a manageable cost, while Detroit also earns a C for turning Messner into the fifth-round choice used on Vaughn. The transaction now has a complete football package, but the realized returns remain too modest on both sides to justify declaring a clear winner.