Los Angeles Chargers–Miami Dolphins Trade History

San Diego acquired quarterback Jon Brittenum from Miami for a 1968 third-round pick, No. 73. Brittenum appeared in 14 AFL games but completed only nine passes for 125 yards, while Miami used the pick on safety Dick Anderson. Anderson became a 121-game Dolphin, three-time Pro Bowler, two-time first-team All-Pro, two-time Super Bowl champion and 1973 AP Defensive Player of the Year, making the gap enormous.

Los Angeles Chargers received Tom Erlandson (a). The Chargers acquired Tom Erlandson and received 10 starts from him in 1968, along with two interceptions and meaningful defensive work. A season of starting defensive value clearly exceeds the outcome of a late-round pick that generated little professional impact. That outcome supports a B grade for Los Angeles Chargers.

San Diego acquired linebacker Bob Bruggers from Miami during the 1968 season for cash. Bruggers played five games for the Chargers that year, then remained with the club through 1971 and accumulated 33 games with 14 starts for San Diego. Miami received financial consideration but no lasting football asset. The multi-season linebacker service makes the Chargers the better side of the deal.

San Diego traded guard Larry Little to Miami for cornerback Mack Lamb after two seasons of uncertainty about Little’s role and conditioning. Lamb never appeared in another professional game, while Little developed into one of the defining offensive linemen of the 1970s and eventually entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Chargers surrendered elite future value and received essentially no on-field return.

San Diego acquired center Carl Mauck, who became a durable starter and opened 54 of 55 games for the Chargers from 1971 through 1974. That level of sustained offensive-line availability gave the club a reliable multi-year foundation piece. Mauck's starting volume and longevity are the strongest direct value in the transaction and create a clear Chargers advantage.

San Diego acquired defensive tackle John Richardson from Miami on July 11, 1972 for a 1973 sixth-round draft choice. Historical listings support the round and year, but the eventual player tied to the selection cannot be established confidently, so the pick remains unidentified. Richardson gave the Chargers a veteran defensive-line option, while Miami converted a movable veteran into future draft capital during its championship-era roster construction.

Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers received Bruce Bannon, while Miami Dolphins received Pete Lazetich. Bannon lasted one week with San Diego before the Chargers later turned him into a 1976 ninth-round pick; Lazetich brought Miami no lasting value. The hindsight grades are B- for Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers and D+ for Miami Dolphins, producing a Los Angeles Chargers Win verdict.

The Chargers acquired veteran running back Eugene “Mercury” Morris from Miami in August 1976 for a 1977 fourth-round pick that became No. 98. Morris brought an accomplished name and immediate depth, but he did not create enough lasting Chargers value to separate the deal. Miami's pick also failed to produce a clear direct advantage, leaving the exchange essentially even.

Miami acquired the rights to 1977 San Diego draft pick Jim Stansik on July 14, 1977. The price was a conditional 1978 tenth-round choice only if Stansik made the Dolphins roster during the 1977 season; he was cut before the regular season, so the condition did not trigger.

Los Angeles Chargers received George Roberts, while Miami Dolphins received 1982 sixth round pick (#161-Tom Totson). San Diego acquired punter George Roberts from Miami on August 31, 1981 for the future sixth-round choice that became No. 161, used on Tom Totson. That return earns a B grade for Los Angeles Chargers, and the overall verdict is Los Angeles Chargers Win.

Miami acquired Pete Johnson from San Diego on September 22, 1984, sending the rights to Dewey Forte and a 1985 second-round pick. Johnson gave the Dolphins immediate goal-line value with nine rushing touchdowns in 13 games during a Super Bowl season. San Diego used No. 55 on Jeffery Dale, who played 42 games and intercepted six passes. The Chargers gained the slightly stronger multi-year return.

Miami traded wide receiver Tony Martin to the Chargers in March 1994 for a fourth-round selection. Martin became a major Chargers contributor and eventually finished his NFL career with 593 receptions and 9,065 receiving yards. Miami retained useful downstream value from the acquired draft asset, but Los Angeles received the strongest direct player contribution from the transaction.

San Diego acquired wide receiver and returner Nate Jacquet from Miami for a 2001 sixth-round pick. The Chargers got only a brief stint from Jacquet, while Miami eventually used the 164th selection on tackle Brandon Winey. Winey did not play for the Dolphins, but he reached the NFL and appeared in 24 games with three starts. The pick retained more downstream value than Jacquet’s short Chargers tenure.

Miami acquired Chargers legend Junior Seau in April 2003 for a 2004 fifth-round pick that San Diego used on Michael Turner. Seau immediately started 15 games for Miami and recorded 133 tackles, strengthening an already talented defense. Turner later became an excellent NFL running back, but most of his peak production came after leaving San Diego. Miami's immediate return was strong enough to give the Dolphins the trade win.

Miami acquired wide receiver David Boston from San Diego in 2004 for cornerback Jamar Fletcher and a 2005 sixth-round pick. Boston missed the entire 2004 season with a knee injury and caught only four passes for 80 yards in five games for Miami in 2005. Fletcher played 30 games for the Chargers over two seasons, while the pick became Wes Sims. Modest value was enough for San Diego to win clearly.

San Diego sent developmental quarterback Cleo Lemon to Miami and received A.J. Feeley plus a 2006 sixth-round pick, later used on Kurt Smith. Feeley never became important to the Chargers and Smith did not produce lasting value, so the return was modest. Still, San Diego extracted two assets from a third-string quarterback while Miami received only eight eventual starts from Lemon.

Miami traded wide receiver Chris Chambers to the Chargers on October 16, 2007 for a 2008 second-round draft choice. That selection became No. 57 overall, which Miami used on quarterback Chad Henne.

San Diego made a major move up to No. 12 for running back Ryan Mathews while also receiving picks No. 110 and No. 173. Miami moved down to No. 28, added No. 40 and No. 126, and received linebacker Tim Dobbins. Mathews produced two 1,000-yard seasons for the Chargers, while Jared Odrick and Koa Misi became multiyear Miami defenders. Darrell Stuckey added Pro Bowl special-teams value, leaving both sides with substantial returns.

Miami traded pick No. 73 to San Diego for Nos. 78 and 183. The Dolphins selected tight end Michael Egnew and receiver B.J. Cunningham; Egnew caught only seven NFL passes and Cunningham never became a Miami regular-season contributor. The Chargers used No. 73 on safety Brandon Taylor, whose career was derailed by knee injuries after only four defensive appearances. With all three selections producing very little, the trade finishes essentially even.

Los Angeles Chargers received 2014 2nd round pick (50th overall, Jeremiah Attaochu). The Chargers received No. 50 and selected Jeremiah Attaochu, who played 38 regular-season games with 13 starts for the club from 2014 through 2017. Miami's converted No. 57 value plus Walt Aikens substantially exceeds Attaochu's useful but limited Chargers tenure, supporting the existing same-transaction Miami win. That outcome supports a C+ grade for Los Angeles Chargers.