Los Angeles Chargers–New York Giants Trade History

New York acquired rookie running back Bill Rudder from San Diego on August 29, 1974 in a deal initially listed for the Giants' 1975 seventh-round draft choice. Rudder, the 59th overall pick earlier that year, was released by New York on September 12 before appearing in a regular-season game. The 1975 draft record shows the Giants retained their own seventh-round selection, so no realized pick moved to the Chargers.

San Diego traded cornerback Leonard Dunlap to the New York Giants on July 22, 1975 for the Giants' 1976 fifth-round draft choice. Official Chargers trade history confirms the straight player-for-pick exchange. Dunlap did not appear in a Giants regular-season game, and the surviving draft ledgers do not let TradeVerdicts identify with confidence which San Diego selection ultimately represented that acquired fifth-round asset.

San Diego received the 1981 sixth-round choice at No. 141 and used it on Andrew Gissinger. Gissinger became a multi-season NFL player, turning a late selection into useful roster value and giving the Chargers the stronger realized side of the exchange. The B- grade reflects that realized football value and the complete supported package, while the overall verdict is Los Angeles Chargers Win.

Los Angeles Chargers received 1981 eleventh round pick (#280-Matt Petrzelka) in the deal with New York Giants. San Diego used the eleventh-round selection on Matt Petrzelka, who did not establish meaningful NFL production. The Chargers received little direct value from the draft asset. That outcome supports a D for Los Angeles Chargers. The Even Trade verdict weighs documented games, starts, production and connected draft value.

San Diego traded safety Pete Shaw to New York on July 13, 1982 for the Giants' 1984 eighth-round choice, which became No. 199 overall. The Chargers selected Texas defensive end Ray Woodard, but he spent 1984 on injured reserve and was waived before the 1985 season without appearing in a San Diego regular-season game. The acquired pick therefore produced no on-field Chargers value.

San Diego acquired veteran linebacker Brian Kelley from the Giants on March 29, 1984 for its tenth-round pick, No. 257. Kelley was released by the Chargers on August 27 before the regular season, so San Diego received no regular-season production from the deal.

San Diego acquired wide receiver Bobby Johnson from the New York Giants in August 1987 for a 1988 tenth-round pick. Johnson joined the Chargers during training camp but was released before the regular season and never appeared in a regular-season game for San Diego. The player acquisition therefore produced no realized on-field value for the Chargers.

San Diego moved up with New York in the 1989 draft, receiving second-round pick No. 51 and selecting quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver. The Giants received Nos. 64, 93 and 175, which became Bob Kratch, Lewis Tillman and Dave Popp. Tolliver started 19 games over two Chargers seasons, but Kratch and Tillman supplied longer New York service and both were part of the 1990 Super Bowl championship roster.

The Eli Manning-Philip Rivers trade is one of the rare draft blockbusters where both teams can defend the outcome. The Giants landed the quarterback who helped deliver two Super Bowls. The Chargers received Philip Rivers, Nate Kaeding, Shawne Merriman, and more value. New York gets the edge because championships settle close arguments. The Chargers built a strong return, but the Giants got the quarterback tied to the rings.