Buffalo Bills–Los Angeles Chargers Trade History

Buffalo Bills received Richard Hudson / Dick Hudson; Frank Lasky; rights to Harrison Rosdahl / Hatch Rosdahl in the 1963-01-14 exchange with San Diego Chargers. Dick Hudson became a long-term Buffalo starter and championship-era contributor, giving the Bills durable value from a package that also included Frank Lasky and rights to Hatch Rosdahl. The direct package is the basis for the hindsight grade, with later movement of an acquired selection treated separately. That supports Even Trade.

Buffalo acquired Keith Lincoln from San Diego for Tom Day and the 1967 second-round pick used on Bob Howard. Lincoln gave the Bills excellent immediate production in 1967, making the deal worthwhile in the short term, but his second Buffalo stint was brief. San Diego's return produced the stronger long-term asset in Howard.

Buffalo acquired quarterback Kay Stephenson from the Chargers and received immediate playing time in 1968. Stephenson appeared in ten games and handled a substantial amount of passing work, giving the Bills useful quarterback depth and real regular-season snaps. The fifth-round pick sent to the Chargers did not produce a comparable return for Los Angeles, so Buffalo's realized value supports a B- grade.

Buffalo Bills received 1969 fifth round pick (#105-Ben Mayes), while Los Angeles Chargers received Keith Lincoln. San Diego reacquired Keith Lincoln while Buffalo received the 1969 fifth-round choice used at No. 105 on Ben Mayes. Lincoln's return lasted only one game and Mayes never generated regular-season value for Buffalo, so neither side created a meaningful advantage. Buffalo Bills earns a D+ grade, and the overall verdict is Even Trade.

Buffalo sent receiver Richard Trapp to the Chargers and received the 1970 third-round pick used on Glenn Alexander. Alexander played 13 games for the Bills as a rookie, catching four passes for 51 yards and handling kickoff-return work. Trapp’s Chargers stint lasted only eight games with two catches for 39 yards. Neither return became a major piece, but Buffalo extracted slightly more usable value.

Buffalo Bills received 1973 conditional pick (#110-Wallace Francis). Buffalo received the conditional 1973 choice that became No. 110 and used it on Wallace Francis. Francis went on to a multi-year NFL career, giving Buffalo tangible value from the acquired draft asset. That direct player outcome was more useful than the limited Chargers contribution from Cal Snowden. That stronger outcome supports a B- grade for Buffalo Bills.

San Diego traded defensive back Chuck Detwiler, defensive end Lee Thomas, and a player to be named later to Buffalo on April 10, 1973 for the Bills' 1974 second-round pick. The Chargers used No. 43 on offensive lineman Mark Markovich, who appeared in 23 regular-season games for San Diego across 1974-75. Detwiler and Thomas did not play a regular-season game for Buffalo after the trade, while the later player's identity remains unresolved.

Buffalo Bills received 1974 fifth round pick (#106-Gary Hayman), while Los Angeles Chargers received Mike Stratton. Buffalo sent Mike Stratton to San Diego for the 1974 fifth-round choice that became No. 106 Gary Hayman. The supported history provides enough detail to judge the exchange without overstating uncertain downstream information. Buffalo Bills earns a C grade, and the overall verdict is Los Angeles Chargers Win.

Buffalo Bills received $100 cash in the 1974-08-02 exchange with San Diego Chargers, giving up Fred Forsberg. Buffalo received $100 cash for Fred Forsberg. That return supports a C- grade for Buffalo Bills. The final verdict is Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers Win, based on the football value tied directly to the assets in this deal.

Buffalo Bills: Buffalo received Dave Costa and gained meaningful defensive-line work from the veteran after the trade. The B- grade reflects only value tied directly to this transaction, including production or draft value the club itself controlled. Against Los Angeles Chargers, that supported return leads to the final verdict of Buffalo Bills Win.

Buffalo Bills received 1976 fifth round pick (selection not identified) from Los Angeles Chargers on 1975-01-28, while Los Angeles Chargers received 1975 fifth round pick (125th overall, Charles Waddell). The final verdict is Even Trade, with Buffalo Bills graded C and Los Angeles Chargers graded C. The result weighs realized football value and the certainty of the historical consideration rather than simply counting names or picks.

Buffalo Bills received 1976 ninth round pick (#241-Jeff Turner), while Los Angeles Chargers received Halvor Hagen. San Diego acquired Halvor Hagen while Buffalo received ninth-round No. 241, Jeff Turner. The supported history provides enough detail to judge the exchange without overstating uncertain downstream information. Buffalo Bills earns a C- grade, and the overall verdict is Even Trade.

Buffalo acquired veteran quarterback Bill Munson from the Chargers in August 1978 for a future seventh-round pick that became No. 175 and Chuck Loewen. Munson's Bills tenure produced limited value, while the Chargers preserved the draft asset and ultimately made the selection. The difference is modest, but the more durable asset outcome gives Los Angeles the edge.

On 1983-08-13, Buffalo Bills received Mikell Williams, while Los Angeles Chargers received Lou Piccone, undisclosed draft pick. The hindsight verdict is Los Angeles Chargers Win, with Buffalo Bills graded C and Los Angeles Chargers graded C+. The evaluation follows the documented consideration and the football value that can be traced from it, while treating conditional terms and later draft outcomes as context rather than as assets exchanged directly on trade day.

The Chargers acquired safety Martin Bayless from Buffalo for defensive back Wayne Davis in late August 1987. Bayless immediately started all 12 games of the strike-shortened season and remained a regular Chargers starter for years, while Davis produced a much smaller Buffalo return. The one-for-one player swap generated clear long-term value for San Diego.

San Diego acquired defensive back David Brandon and Buffalo's 1988 fourth-round pick, later used on Stacy Searels, while the Bills received wide receiver Trumaine Johnson and a 1988 seventh-rounder that became Bo Wright. Contemporary reporting and team histories agree on the package. Johnson's Buffalo stay was brief, and the Chargers received both a player and the substantially earlier draft choice, giving San Diego the stronger overall return.

Buffalo Bills received conditional 2019 seventh-round pick (not conveyed) from Los Angeles Chargers. Buffalo's return was a conditional 2019 seventh-round choice, but the condition was not met and no pick was conveyed. The Bills therefore received no usable draft asset from the exchange. That outcome supports a D grade for Buffalo Bills. The final verdict is Even Trade, based on the football value the club actually realized from the assets it controlled after the exchange.