Arizona Cardinals–Los Angeles Chargers Trade History

Arizona Cardinals received Walker Gillette and Leon Burns; Gillette started 22 games across two St. Louis seasons with 53 catches for 794 yards and three touchdowns, while Burns had 69 rushing yards and two scores in his lone Cardinals season. The team earns a C+, compared with B for Los Angeles Chargers, and the hindsight verdict is Los Angeles Chargers Win. That judgment reflects the concrete team-specific production, role and tenure created by the assets in this deal.

Arizona sent Clarence Duren to the Chargers in June 1977 and received a future 1978 fourth-round pick that became No. 96 and George Collins. The Cardinals converted the player into a meaningful mid-round draft asset, while Duren's Chargers return was more limited. Arizona therefore owns the better side of the trade once the transaction identifiers reflect only the real two-asset package.

St. Louis traded safety Ken Greene to San Diego on May 2, 1983 for the Chargers' 1984 third- and eighth-round picks. Greene played 31 games for San Diego and started nine in 1983. The Cardinals used the eighth-rounder on Niko Noga, a multi-year starter, while the third-round asset was later included in the Al Baker trade and became No. 62. St. Louis created the stronger overall return.

San Diego acquired defensive back Tim Lucas from the Cardinals on June 22, 1987 for an eleventh-round choice in the 1988 draft. Chargers historical records support that date rather than the July date carried in the current entry. Lucas did not become a meaningful regular-season contributor in San Diego, while the Cardinals at least recovered a late selection. Arizona receives a restrained C+ to D+ win.

San Diego acquired guard Mike Zandofsky from Phoenix in August 1990 for a late 1991 draft choice. Chargers records show Zandofsky became a useful multi-year interior lineman, appearing throughout the next four seasons and starting all 16 games in 1993. The Cardinals recovered late draft capital, but its downstream identity is uncertain and did not match the known Chargers production. San Diego wins with a B to C result.

Arizona turned the second pick in the 1998 draft into an enormous package from San Diego: Eric Metcalf, Patrick Sapp, the No. 3 and No. 33 selections in 1998, and a 1999 first-rounder. Those picks became Andre Wadsworth, Corey Chavous and David Boston. Not every piece became a star, but the Cardinals diversified one premium asset into multiple starters while the quarterback selected by San Diego became an historic bust.

San Diego moved up seven spots in the 2013 second round to select linebacker Manti Te'o at No. 38, sending Arizona Nos. 45 and 110. The Cardinals stayed in the same round and selected Kevin Minter at No. 45, then later moved the No. 110 choice. Te'o gave the Chargers useful defensive snaps, but Arizona kept comparable player value while adding another tradable pick.