Los Angeles Chargers–Tennessee Titans Trade History

San Diego received John Baker, Gary Cutsinger, and Pete Jaquess from Houston while sending Ernie Ladd and Earl Faison to the Oilers. The surviving record does not securely connect the transaction to a specific additional draft return, and the downstream value is difficult to separate with confidence. The documented player exchange therefore supports a balanced result rather than a clear winner.

San Diego received defensive lineman Scott Appleton and linebacker Johnny Baker, and both gave the Chargers useful 1967 service. Appleton started all 14 games, while Baker also contributed to the defense. That is a solid two-player return, but it was outweighed by the immediate star-level season Houston received from cornerback Miller Farr.

Los Angeles Chargers received Doug Wilkerson. Doug Wilkerson became a 14-year Chargers mainstay, played 195 games for the franchise, and earned three Pro Bowls along with All-Pro recognition. That outcome supports a A+ grade because the return is measured by the direct football value Los Angeles Chargers actually received after the deal, compared with the asset sent the other way.

San Diego acquired Jerry LeVias, who gave the Chargers four seasons of receiving and return work with substantial starting time. The longer tenure gave San Diego steady offensive and special-teams value from one player. That durability is a real advantage, although Houston received two immediate starters in the same exchange, keeping the overall comparison much closer than LeVias' longevity alone might suggest.

San Diego sent Houston picks No. 72 and No. 125 in the 1988 draft for pick No. 60, which became receiver Quinn Early. Early gave the Chargers three seasons and 739 receiving yards before developing into a bigger producer elsewhere. Houston used its choices on punter Greg Montgomery and cornerback Cris Dishman, with Dishman becoming a long-term starter and 43-interception NFL defender.

San Diego acquired veteran quarterback Billy Volek from Tennessee for a conditional 2007 sixth-round selection that ultimately became pick 204, where the Titans selected defensive end Jacob Ford. The Chargers received dependable quarterback insurance plus a memorable postseason contribution, while the Titans turned a surplus player into several seasons of defensive production.

Los Angeles traded Desmond King to Tennessee for the 2021 sixth-round pick later used on Nick Niemann. King helped the Titans only for the remainder of 2020 before leaving, while Niemann gave the Chargers four seasons of regular special-teams service. The pick produced the longer club return, so Los Angeles earns the moderate hindsight win.

The Chargers acquired Elijah Molden from Tennessee for a 2026 seventh-round pick and immediately received starter-level value. Molden started 12 games in 2024, intercepted three passes, recovered two fumbles and became part of the league's stingiest scoring defense before earning a multi-year extension. Tennessee gained late-round capital, but Los Angeles turned a minimal price into a durable secondary piece.