On 1970-10-15, Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego/Los Angeles…
On 1970-10-15, Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers completed a deal that sent 1971 second round pick (#39-Wilbur Young) to Kansas City Chiefs and Mike Garrett to San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers. Garrett became a multi-season Chargers starter and remained an important offensive contributor through 1973. Young did not supply Kansas City with a comparable return from the premium second-round selection. That realized value supports a San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers Win verdict, with Kansas City Chiefs graded C and San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers graded B+.
Kansas City Chiefs Received
- pick 1971 second round pick (#39-Wilbur Young)
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- player Mike Garrett
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Kansas City traded former Heisman Trophy winner Mike Garrett to San Diego for the 1971 second-round pick used on Wilbur Young. Draft records and Chargers history agree on the one-player-for-one-pick structure. The original transaction matters because later pick movement can blur what each club actually received. This version keeps the identified assets attached to the correct side.
What Kansas City Chiefs Received
Kansas City Chiefs came away with 1971 second round pick (#39-Wilbur Young). Garrett became a multi-season Chargers starter and remained an important offensive contributor through 1973. Young did not supply Kansas City with a comparable return from the premium second-round selection. The grade reflects both the quality of that return and how directly it benefited the franchise.
What San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers Received
San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers received Mike Garrett. The comparison is not based only on the apparent value of the package on trade day. It weighs what those assets became, how long the player contribution lasted, whether a draft choice produced usable service, and whether either side quickly moved on without meaningful return.
How the Value Aged
Garrett became a multi-season Chargers starter and remained an important offensive contributor through 1973. Young did not supply Kansas City with a comparable return from the premium second-round selection. That is the key separator in the hindsight grade. The transaction can still have made sense for both clubs at the time, especially when veterans, roster needs and future choices were valued differently than they are today. The verdict instead measures the football value each franchise ultimately captured from the assets received in this specific exchange.
Final Verdict
The best hindsight result is San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers Win. Kansas City Chiefs earns a C and San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers earns a B+. Flips to the Chargers because Garrett produced several useful seasons while Wilbur Young supplied limited Chiefs value. The grade spread stays proportional to the actual impact: a clear but modest advantage remains modest, while a long-term starter or star compared with little return creates a wider separation.