Los Angeles Chargers–Los Angeles Rams Trade History

San Diego acquired Deacon Jones, Greg Wojcik and Lee White from the Rams on January 29, 1972 for Jeff Staggs plus second- and third-round draft capital that became Jim Bertelsen, Cullen Bryant and Tim Stokes. Jones immediately made the Pro Bowl for the Chargers, but the Rams collected multiple useful pieces with longer combined value. The broader package gives Los Angeles the historical edge.

The Rams acquired quarterback John Hadl from the Chargers for Coy Bacon and Bob Thomas. Hadl immediately led Los Angeles to a 12-2 record in 1973 and earned NFC Player of the Year honors, then became the centerpiece of a massive five-pick trade with Green Bay in 1974.

San Diego acquired Jon Knoble for only $100, an extremely small price even for a fringe roster move. Knoble did not go on to create meaningful regular-season NFL value for the Chargers, so the club gained little beyond the opportunity to evaluate him. The minimal cost keeps the outcome from grading harshly.

The Chargers received the 1975 sixth-round choice at No. 151, then moved that pick to Chicago for Jim Harrison before the Bears selected Tom Hicks. Harrison did not deliver a regular-season return for San Diego, so the downstream value was minimal. That outcome supports a D+ grade within the Los Angeles Rams Win verdict. The grade reflects realized football value rather than the size of the original package.

San Diego acquired tight end Pat Curran and running back Howard Strickland from the Rams for a 1977 third-round choice. Curran immediately became a productive Chargers starter, catching 45 passes for 619 yards in 1975 and starting all 14 games in each of his first two San Diego seasons. The Rams used No. 68 on Ed Fulton, whose NFL career lasted nine games. San Diego won decisively.

San Diego acquired running back Tony Baker from the Los Angeles Rams in September 1975 for one 1976 fifth-round pick, No. 128 Carl Ekern. The separate 1977 Cliff Olander pick does not belong in this trade. Ekern became the far more durable NFL contributor, giving the Rams a strong hindsight return from a modest draft investment.

San Diego acquired defensive lineman Leroy Jones from the Rams for a 1977 second-round choice and $12,500. Jones became an immediate starter and a productive long-term Charger, giving San Diego exactly the kind of front-line return expected for premium draft capital. His sustained defensive value makes the acquisition worthwhile.

Los Angeles Chargers received James Harris (Larnell), while Los Angeles Rams received 1979 fourth round pick (#99-Derwin Tucker). San Diego's trade history and the 1979 draft history confirm the June 7, 1977 acquisition of quarterback James Harris from the Rams for the future fourth-round selection that became No. 99 Derwin Tucker. That return earns a B grade for Los Angeles Chargers, and the overall verdict is Los Angeles Chargers Win.

The Rams acquired center Ed Flanagan from the Chargers for a 1978 fifth-round pick that became No. 135 John Choma. Flanagan was waived before playing for the Rams, and Choma never played for the Chargers, leaving little direct value on either side. In hindsight, the grades are C for San Diego Chargers and C for Los Angeles Rams, producing a Push verdict. The modest scoring reflects the limited scale of the transaction.

San Diego acquired veteran tight end Bob Klein by sending the Rams a future second-round pick. Klein then produced 91 catches, 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns over three Chargers seasons, so the club received real short-term value. The price became more significant when Los Angeles later used that pick in a package to move up for Johnnie Johnson.

The Chargers acquired running back John Cappelletti from the Rams in March 1980 for a 1982 second-round pick, later No. 49. Cappelletti gave San Diego three seasons of useful work, appearing in 35 games and making 19 starts from 1980 through 1982. The Rams retained meaningful draft value and later included the pick in a larger trade-up package, but Cappelletti's direct multi-season contribution gives the Chargers a narrow edge.

Los Angeles Chargers received Ron Smith / Ronnie Smith (Bernard). The Chargers received Ron Smith. Smith supplied some rotational receiving value for San Diego after the trade, giving the club a real but limited player return. That contribution keeps the Chargers competitive in the comparison, although it did not match the multi-season service the Rams later obtained from the correctly identified No. 134 selection, Otis Grant. That result supports a C+ grade for Los Angeles Chargers.

Los Angeles Chargers received Gary Kowalski and 1986 fifth round pick (#133-Matt Johnson). San Diego received Gary Kowalski and the 1986 fifth-round choice used on Matt Johnson. The return produced limited direct value compared with what Duckworth gave the Rams immediately. Compared with Los Angeles Rams' return, the result supports a D+ grade and fits the Los Angeles Rams Win verdict.

Los Angeles sent Barry Redden to San Diego for fullback Buford McGee, a 1988 second-round pick and a conditional 1989 pick. The Rams converted those selections into Flipper Anderson and Thom Kaumeyer. Redden barely played for the Chargers, while McGee became a useful Rams fullback and Anderson developed into a productive deep threat. The realized return makes Los Angeles the clear winner.

San Diego traded guard Jeff Walker to the Los Angeles Rams for an eleventh-round choice in the 1988 draft, No. 285, which became center Ed Miller. Walker gave the Rams an experienced offensive lineman for the 1987 season, while Miller represented a low-cost developmental swing for San Diego. The exchange stayed modest, but the Rams received the more immediate and dependable football value.

San Diego sent veteran tight end Pete Holohan to the Rams during the 1988 draft and received the 91st overall selection, which became defensive lineman Joe Campbell Jr. Holohan gave Los Angeles an experienced receiving option, while Campbell provided San Diego with a young defensive asset. Neither return became a franchise-defining piece, but converting an older player into a fourth-round pick gave the Chargers the better age-and-control profile.

The Rams acquired punter Keith English from San Diego for a 1991 tenth-round pick, No. 254, used on Roland Poles. English handled the Rams' punting job for all 16 games in 1990, recording 68 punts. Poles did not develop into a comparable NFL contributor. San Diego recovered a late selection, but Los Angeles received a full season from a specialist at a minimal acquisition cost.

San Diego sent offensive lineman Leo Goeas to the Rams for the 1993 fourth-round pick used on defensive end Raylee Johnson at No. 95. Johnson became a long-term Chargers pass rusher, remaining with the club through 2003 and producing several strong sack seasons. Goeas gave the Rams experienced line depth, but the fourth-round conversion created far more sustained value for San Diego.

San Diego Chargers received 1995 6th round pick (177th overall, Troy Sienkiewicz) in the 1994-03-18 exchange with Los Angeles Rams, giving up Nate Lewis. The sixth-round choice became No. 177, Troy Sienkiewicz, giving San Diego a later draft asset after moving a veteran receiver. That return supports a B- grade for San Diego Chargers. The final verdict is Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers Win, based on the football value tied directly to the assets in this deal.

Los Angeles Chargers received 1995 4th round pick (104th overall, Aaron Hayden) in the 1994-04-11 exchange with Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams. Hayden gave San Diego one productive partial rushing season plus another year of depth, creating real value from the fourth-round pick. The realized value remains close enough to support an even result.

The Rams sent the 138th pick to San Diego for the 215th pick and a 1998 fourth-rounder. The Chargers used No. 138 on Kenny Bynum, who played 53 NFL games but never became a major offensive piece. St. Louis turned the future fourth-rounder into Az-Zahir Hakim, a productive receiver and returner on the Greatest Show on Turf. That delayed asset made the Rams the clear winner.

Los Angeles Chargers received Brandon Manumaleuna. San Diego received Brandon Manumaleuna, who became a multi-year blocking tight end and filled a useful role for the Chargers. That result supports a C+ for Los Angeles Chargers. The overall comparison favors Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, leaving Los Angeles Chargers on the weaker side of the exchange. The grade reflects the realized player service and draft value tied directly to this transaction, without assigning extra credit for outcomes that cannot be traced confidently to the exchanged assets.