Buffalo Bills received 1969 fifth round pick (#105-Ben…
Buffalo Bills received 1969 fifth round pick (#105-Ben Mayes), while Los Angeles Chargers received Keith Lincoln. San Diego reacquired Keith Lincoln while Buffalo received the 1969 fifth-round choice used at No. 105 on Ben Mayes. Lincoln's return lasted only one game and Mayes never generated regular-season value for Buffalo, so neither side created a meaningful advantage. Buffalo Bills earns a D+ grade, and the overall verdict is Even Trade.
Buffalo Bills Received
- pick 1969 fifth round pick (#105-Ben Mayes)
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- player Keith Lincoln
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1968-10-29, Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers completed an exchange in which Buffalo Bills received 1969 fifth round pick (#105-Ben Mayes), while Los Angeles Chargers received Keith Lincoln. The transaction was modest, so the evaluation turns on the direct value each club actually realized from its return rather than hypothetical value in another setting.
Buffalo Bills Return
Buffalo Bills received 1969 fifth round pick (#105-Ben Mayes), while Los Angeles Chargers received Keith Lincoln. San Diego reacquired Keith Lincoln while Buffalo received the 1969 fifth-round choice used at No. 105 on Ben Mayes. Lincoln's return lasted only one game and Mayes never generated regular-season value for Buffalo, so neither side created a meaningful advantage. Buffalo Bills earns a D+ grade, and the overall verdict is Even Trade.
San Diego Chargers Return
Los Angeles Chargers received Keith Lincoln, while Buffalo Bills received 1969 fifth round pick (#105-Ben Mayes). San Diego reacquired Keith Lincoln while Buffalo received the 1969 fifth-round choice used at No. 105 on Ben Mayes. Lincoln's return lasted only one game and Mayes never generated regular-season value for Buffalo, so neither side created a meaningful advantage. Los Angeles Chargers earns a D+ grade, and the overall verdict is Even Trade.
Value in Hindsight
San Diego reacquired Keith Lincoln while Buffalo received the 1969 fifth-round choice used at No. 105 on Ben Mayes. Lincoln's return lasted only one game and Mayes never generated regular-season value for Buffalo, so neither side created a meaningful advantage. This is the clearest basis for separating the two returns. Small differences in old transaction dates, player naming, or pick numbering are preserved where relevant, but they do not outweigh the actual football value each club received.
Final Verdict
The final judgment is Even Trade. Buffalo Bills receives D+, while Los Angeles Chargers receives D+. The grades are scaled to the size of the deal: a modest edge can still produce a winner, while two weak returns can reasonably finish even. The call rests on realized NFL value and the strongest supported description of the exchange.