Las Vegas Raiders–Los Angeles Chargers Trade History

Las Vegas Raiders received Charley Powell from Los Angeles Chargers. Powell gave the Raiders multiple seasons of defensive-line service and represented a legitimate return for a young franchise. The C+ grade reflects the direct value Las Vegas Raiders 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.

San Diego acquired the AFL rights to Lance Alworth from Oakland for Bo Roberson, Gene Selawski and Hunter Enis; one transaction history also lists an unnamed fourth player. Alworth became a Hall of Fame receiver and one of the defining stars of the AFL. Oakland received useful play from Roberson, but nothing approaching Alworth's franchise-changing career.

Oakland Raiders received Jim Norris from Los Angeles Chargers in the 1962-03-01 exchange. Jim Norris appeared in 22 games for Oakland from 1962 through 1964, while Bert Coan's brief Chargers stay produced less direct value before his better-known Kansas City years. Measured by what Oakland Raiders actually realized after the deal, the return supports a B- grade and represents the stronger realized return. The overall judgment is Oakland Raiders Win.

Oakland acquired guard Dan Ficca and immediately received a full season of service. Ficca played all 14 Raiders games in 1962 and made three starts, giving the club direct value from the transaction. That contribution exceeded what San Diego ultimately realized from the associated draft choice, which did not produce Chargers service from Dave Robinson.

Las Vegas Raiders received loan of Bobby Jackson. The locked Wave 209 research supports the B- grade after comparing the direct production and draft value attributable to this transaction. The evaluation excludes unrelated later moves and unsupported assumptions. Against Los Angeles Chargers, that documented return supports the final verdict of Oakland Raiders Win.

San Diego traded the rights to retired star tackle Ron Mix to Oakland on June 3, 1970 for two future choices described contemporaneously as high selections in the 1971 and 1972 drafts. Mix returned to football for Oakland in 1971 and appeared in 12 games with four starts. The exact San Diego selections remain unidentified, so their eventual downstream value cannot be measured confidently.

Oakland acquired running back Jeff Queen from San Diego on July 31, 1972 for a 1973 third-round selection. Queen contributed only briefly to the Raiders. San Diego used the future pick, No. 64 overall, on quarterback Dan Fouts, who spent 15 seasons with the Chargers, threw for 43,040 yards, made six Pro Bowls and eventually entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Oakland acquired veteran safety Ron Smith from San Diego on August 15, 1974 for 1975 fourth- and eighth-round selections. San Diego used the fourth-rounder at No. 101 on Ken Bernich and the eighth-rounder at No. 206 on Ralph Perretta. Smith was a veteran safety moving to Oakland, while San Diego's compensation was entirely future draft capital. That balance of realized value gives the edge to Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers.

Oakland acquired Ray Carr, Blenda Gay and Harold Paul from San Diego for two 1975 draft choices: No. 284 Ike McBee and No. 335 Glen Printers. The Raiders turned two very late selections into three players, while the Chargers chose future roster shots instead. The quantity and immediate certainty of Oakland's return make this a modest Raiders win.

Oakland acquired defensive tackle Dave Rowe from San Diego for a 1976 fourth-round choice. Rowe became a major immediate success, starting 28 games across the 1976 and 1977 seasons and anchoring the middle of the Raiders defense during their Super Bowl XI championship year. San Diego used the pick on Ron Singleton, a useful lineman, but Rowe’s championship contribution gives Oakland the edge.

Las Vegas Raiders received Franklin Tate / Frank Tate. The Raiders received Franklin Tate. Tate had already made his only NFL regular-season appearances with the Chargers and did not appear in a regular-season game for Oakland after the exchange. With no direct playing value realized from the acquisition, the Raiders' side of this straight player swap remained minimal. That result supports a C- grade for Las Vegas Raiders.

San Diego and Oakland swapped 1976 draft choices on April 8, 1976. The Chargers sent a fourth-round choice that became No. 110 Herb McMath and an eighth-round choice that became No. 220 Jerome Dove, while receiving a fourth-round choice that remains unidentified in the transaction ledger and a sixth-round choice that became No. 178 Calvin Lane. McMath immediately gave Oakland regular-season value on its Super Bowl XI championship team.

Oakland acquired linebacker Floyd Rice from San Diego for cash on July 17, 1976. Chargers trade history records the sale directly, and Raiders history shows Rice played 23 games with 11 starts over the next two seasons. San Diego received financial consideration but no football asset. The Raiders did not land a star, yet two seasons of usable linebacker work for cash make Oakland the clear modest winner.

Oakland received picks 207 and 291 in the 1978 draft from San Diego, using them on Mark Nichols and Dean Jones, while the Chargers received picks 200 and 248 and selected Dennis Sproul and Blake Whitlatch. Historical sources conflict on the exact pick pairing, but the contemporaneous transaction trail and Raiders draft record support this package. None of the four selections produced enough value to create a clear winner.

San Diego traded Pro Bowl tackle Jim Lachey to the Raiders in 1988 for tackle John Clay plus 1989 third- and fourth-round choices. Clay arrived injured, failed his initial physical and never became the replacement San Diego needed. The Raiders briefly held an elite left tackle and then used Lachey in the deal for quarterback Jay Schroeder, while the Chargers' return became entangled in the later Napoleon McCallum adjustment.

The Chargers acquired the rights to Navy running back Napoleon McCallum from the Raiders on October 11, 1988, sending back major draft value connected to the earlier Jim Lachey trade. McCallum did not play a regular-season down for San Diego while serving his military commitment. The Raiders recovered draft capital, and the Chargers later sent McCallum back to the Raiders in 1990 for only a late future choice.

Las Vegas Raiders received Napoleon McCallum in the deal with Los Angeles Chargers. McCallum played only five Raiders games across 1990, 1991 and 1993, although he produced some useful rushing work in a two-start stretch during 1993. The contribution remained limited in both volume and duration. That outcome supports a C+ for Las Vegas Raiders. The Los Angeles Chargers Win verdict weighs documented games, starts, production and connected draft value.

Las Vegas Raiders received Jamie Holland in the deal with Los Angeles Chargers. Holland played all 16 games in both 1990 and 1991 and handled substantial kickoff-return work, including 655 return yards in 1990 and 421 in 1991. Oakland received two full seasons of usable special-teams value. That outcome supports a B- for Las Vegas Raiders. The Las Vegas Raiders Win verdict weighs documented games, starts, production and connected draft value.