Green Bay traded Paul Dudley to New York on September 3,…
Green Bay traded Paul Dudley to New York on September 3, 1962, for the 1963 fourth-round selection used on Lionel Aldridge. Dudley played 11 games with two starts for the Giants before leaving the next year. Aldridge became a long-term Packers defensive end and starter during the Lombardi championship era, making Green Bay the decisive winner of the exchange.
Green Bay Packers Received
- pick 1963 fourth-round pick (No. 54, Lionel Aldridge )
New York Giants Received
- player Paul Dudley
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
The Packers traded Paul Dudley to the Giants on September 3, 1962, for New York's fourth-round choice in the 1963 draft. Green Bay used the selection at No. 54 on defensive end Lionel Aldridge. The deal was straightforward: New York paid a mid-round future asset for a young back, while the Packers converted that pick into a defensive prospect who would become part of the club's championship core.
Green Bay's Return
Aldridge became an outstanding return for the 54th pick. He spent nine seasons with Green Bay, appeared in more than 100 games for the Packers and grew into a regular defensive-line starter. His tenure overlapped the heart of Vince Lombardi's championship run, including the teams that won three consecutive NFL titles from 1965 through 1967 and the first two Super Bowls. Green Bay received years of dependable frontline value from a fourth-round selection.
New York's Return
Dudley contributed for one Giants season. In 1962 he appeared in 11 games, made two starts, rushed for 100 yards, caught passes for 112 yards and scored one receiving touchdown. New York moved him to Philadelphia in 1963. Those numbers gave the Giants some useful depth, but the contribution was brief and never approached the sustained starting role Aldridge built in Green Bay.
Value in Hindsight
The comparison is unusually clear for a mid-round trade. Green Bay turned one fourth-round pick into a durable defensive starter during a dynasty, while New York received a single season of limited offensive production. Even without assigning team success directly to one player, Aldridge's longevity, starting responsibility and role on elite defenses create an enormous value gap. Dudley was functional, but the cost became much more valuable than the acquisition.
Final Verdict
Green Bay Packers Win. Green Bay earns an A for finding a long-term championship-era starter with the acquired fourth-round pick. New York receives a D+ because Dudley supplied only one modest season before moving on. The Packers captured both the better player and far more years of team value.