The Rams traded veteran defensive back Will Sherman to…
The Rams traded veteran defensive back Will Sherman to expansion Minnesota on June 27, 1961 for a future draft choice. Contemporary reports establish the exchange even though the exact pick is not identified. Sherman, already an experienced Ram, appeared in eight games for the inaugural Vikings and contributed limited receiving work, giving Minnesota short-term veteran help at a still-unknown draft cost.
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick future draft choice (exact year, round and selection not identified)
Minnesota Vikings Received
- player Will Sherman
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Los Angeles traded veteran defensive back Will Sherman to Minnesota on June 27, 1961 for a future draft choice. Contemporary newspaper accounts establish the move and the form of compensation, but they do not identify the draft year, round or eventual player. That uncertainty does not erase the transaction; it simply means the return must remain a future draft choice in the historical description.
Minnesota Vikings Return
For Minnesota, Sherman supplied something an expansion team badly needed: NFL experience. He had spent most of the 1950s with the Rams and joined a roster being assembled from expansion selections, draft picks and veteran acquisitions. Sherman appeared in eight games for the 1961 Vikings and recorded two receptions for 40 yards, giving the club short-term utility during its inaugural season.
Los Angeles Rams Return
The Rams received future draft capital for a veteran who was no longer central to their plans. That was sensible value management, but the precise pick and its later outcome are not established. Without that link, Los Angeles should receive credit for obtaining compensation rather than credit for a particular drafted player's success.
Value in Hindsight
Sherman's eight-game Minnesota stint was useful but brief, so this is not a major expansion-era coup. Still, established veteran service had special value to a first-year club learning how to compete at the NFL level. The unknown draft result limits how far either side's grade can move, keeping the transaction in the solid-but-minor range.
Final Verdict
Minnesota receives a B- for converting future draft compensation into an experienced defender who contributed during the franchise's inaugural season. Los Angeles gets a C+ for obtaining a real future asset, even though its exact outcome is not established. The Vikings hold a slight edge on documented value, but the result remains close enough to classify as an Even Trade.