Dallas Cowboys–Los Angeles Chargers Trade History

Dallas acquired Hall of Fame receiver Lance Alworth from the Chargers in May 1971 for Pettis Norman, Ron East and Tony Liscio. The move was connected to the Cowboys' simultaneous Lance Rentzel deal with the Rams, but the Chargers' direct return came from Dallas. Alworth immediately helped a championship offense and scored the first touchdown of Dallas' Super Bowl VI victory.

Dallas reacquired veteran tackle Tony Liscio during the 1971 season and received immediate value at exactly the right time. Liscio became a starter down the stretch and remained in the lineup through the Cowboys' championship postseason, culminating in Super Bowl VI. That timely contribution gave Dallas far more practical value than the fifth-round pick it surrendered, supporting a B+ grade for the Cowboys.

Dallas Cowboys received Billy Parks and (James) Mike Montgomery. Dallas received Billy Parks and Mike Montgomery. Parks became a useful player and also figured into a later asset chain, while Montgomery added another roster piece. The Cowboys therefore received two tangible assets for a player who never appeared in a regular-season game for San Diego, creating a clear Dallas advantage. That stronger outcome supports a B+ grade for Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas Cowboys received 1976 seventh round pick (#186-Greg Schaum). Dallas received the 1976 seventh-round choice used on Greg Schaum. Schaum appeared in twelve games for the Cowboys as a rookie, providing modest immediate depth from a late-round selection. The return was useful but short of major impact, and it compares reasonably with the limited service San Diego obtained from Ken Hutcherson. That result supports a C grade for Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas received the future tenth-round choice associated with No. 265 in the 1977 draft, a selection later connected with Curtis Townsend in the existing record. The Cowboys subsequently moved the pick in another transaction and did not realize a clear direct player advantage from this exchange. The C grade preserves the appropriately cautious treatment of a modest and indirect return.

Dallas sent Clint Longley and the 1977 first-round pick that became Bob Rush to San Diego for 1977 selections No. 14 and No. 41. The Cowboys later packaged both choices with No. 30 and No. 54 to Seattle to move up for Tony Dorsett. That downstream use turned the deal into a major Dallas success.

Dallas Cowboys received 1977 eighth round pick (#208-Al Cleveland) from Los Angeles Chargers. Al Cleveland never produced an NFL regular-season career, so Dallas did not realize meaningful on-field value from the selection it acquired. The D grade reflects the direct value Dallas Cowboys realized from the transaction, with the final Los Angeles Chargers Win call based on actual service and clearly traceable draft outcomes rather than projected value.

Dallas acquired veteran kicker Rolf Benirschke from San Diego but waived him before the 1987 regular season after Roger Ruzek won the job. San Diego's listed 1989 twelfth-round return never appears as a Dallas-derived selection in the Chargers' 1989 draft. Neither acquired asset produced regular-season value for its receiving team, supporting C grades for both teams and an Even Trade verdict.

San Diego acquired Dallas draft rights to wide receiver Brian Bedford on June 29, 1988 for a 1989 ninth-round pick. Bedford had been Dallas' ninth-round selection that spring, but he did not produce regular-season NFL value for the Chargers. With the future ninth-round choice not tied here to a consequential Dallas return, the small exchange is best treated as an even C/C trade.

Dallas sent running back Darrin Nelson to San Diego in October 1989 and received a 1990 fifth-round pick that became No. 116, Reggie Thornton. Dallas later routed that selection into the Herschel Walker deal, but the Chargers owed nothing beyond this pick. Turning a veteran into usable draft capital gives the Cowboys the better direct value in this smaller exchange.

San Diego sent Dallas a 1991 third-round pick that became Godfrey Myles for three sixth-round selections in the 1990 draft, not just the John Friesz pick. The Chargers used the choices on Friesz, Frank Cornish and Derrick Walker. All three contributed, including starting stretches from each, while Myles became a useful Dallas linebacker. The broader three-player return gives the Chargers the edge.

Dallas Cowboys received 2003 7th round pick (236th overall subsequently traded, Brandon Drumm) in the deal with Los Angeles Chargers. Dallas subsequently used pick 236 to acquire Aveion Cason, who appeared in 10 Cowboys games and contributed as a reserve and returner. The Cowboys recovered usable depth from the asset. That outcome supports a C+ for Dallas Cowboys. The Los Angeles Chargers Win verdict weighs documented games, starts, production and connected draft value.

Dallas recovered a 2011 seventh-round pick for a veteran receiver it was willing to move and selected Shaun Chapas at No. 220. The asset recovery was sensible, but the player outcome was limited. The grade remains tied to documented value for the acquiring club, without assigning credit for unresolved or hypothetical downstream consideration.