San Diego acquired defensive tackle John Richardson from…
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 Chargers Received
- player John Richardson
Miami Dolphins Received
- pick 1973 sixth round draft choice (selection not identified)
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
San Diego's historical trade listings identify July 11, 1972 as the date the Chargers acquired defensive tackle John Richardson from Miami for a 1973 sixth-round choice. The eventual selection cannot be tied down confidently, so the return remains an unidentified sixth-round pick. This treatment uses the most specific contemporaneous or club-history description available and leaves any genuinely unidentified draft choice unnamed rather than attaching a speculative player.
What San Diego Chargers Received
San Diego received a veteran defensive lineman for a low-cost future choice. Richardson gave the Chargers an experienced body for the defensive front, but the deal did not create a major long-term advantage. The return is evaluated on the assets that can be tied directly to the transaction, not on later guesses about uncertain pick chains. That keeps the historical package readable while preserving the limits of what can be established.
What Miami Dolphins Received
Miami converted a veteran into additional draft capital during the championship era. Even without a secure player attribution for the sixth-round choice, acquiring a future selection for a movable veteran was efficient roster management. The football result matters because a trade grade should reflect both the price paid and what the acquired asset actually delivered. Immediate roster value, later movement and retained draft capital all shape the comparison.
Final Verdict
Miami earns a B and San Diego a C-. The Dolphins added a future asset without surrendering a cornerstone, while the Chargers' return was useful but limited. The modest pick cost keeps the loss from being severe. The grade is based on the strongest documented version of the exchange and the subsequent value each club received. Where later histories disagree on a peripheral detail, the uncertain detail is left general instead of being presented as settled fact.
Miami preserved future value with the sixth-round choice.