Baltimore traded defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema to New York…
Baltimore traded defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema to New York on September 22, 1967, for the 1968 fifth-round pick used on Paul Elzey. Lurtsema became a multi-year Giants starter, appearing in 62 games and starting 57 from 1967 through 1971. Elzey did not create comparable Colts value, so New York turned a fifth-round cost into a durable starting defender.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- pick 1968 fifth-round pick (No. 126, Paul Elzey)
New York Giants Received
- player Bob Lurtsema
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
The Colts sent defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema to the Giants on September 22, 1967, for New York's fifth-round choice in the 1968 draft. Baltimore used the selection at No. 126 on Paul Elzey. The trade offered the Giants an immediate veteran at a modest draft cost, while the Colts accepted a future chance to refresh the roster.
Baltimore's Return
The fifth-round pick did not become meaningful Colts production. Elzey never established a substantial NFL role for Baltimore, leaving the club without a durable player return from the selection. The original logic of moving a player for future capital was reasonable, but the result matters in hindsight: the pick did not replace anything close to the number of starts Lurtsema would give New York.
New York's Return
Lurtsema became an immediate and dependable starter. He started all 14 games after arriving in 1967, did it again in 1968, then remained a regular through 1971. Across his Giants tenure he appeared in 62 games and made 57 starts. That level of availability from a player acquired for a fifth-round pick is excellent value, especially because New York received it across multiple seasons rather than in a short veteran cameo.
Value in Hindsight
The gap is driven by both duration and role. New York acquired a player who repeatedly occupied a starting spot, while Baltimore's draft return did not develop into comparable service. Fifth-round choices are valuable because they can uncover useful players, but the Colts surrendered someone who actually became exactly that for another club. The Giants realized the upside; Baltimore did not.
Final Verdict
New York Giants Win. The Giants earn an A- for turning a fifth-round selection into 57 starts and more than four seasons of defensive-line value. Baltimore receives a D because the pick did not yield a meaningful Colts career. This is one of the clearest wins in the wave.