Buffalo Bills received 1974 fifth round pick (#106-Gary…
Buffalo Bills received 1974 fifth round pick (#106-Gary Hayman), while Los Angeles Chargers received Mike Stratton. Buffalo sent Mike Stratton to San Diego for the 1974 fifth-round choice that became No. 106 Gary Hayman. The supported history provides enough detail to judge the exchange without overstating uncertain downstream information. Buffalo Bills earns a C grade, and the overall verdict is Los Angeles Chargers Win.
Buffalo Bills Received
- pick 1974 fifth round pick (#106-Gary Hayman)
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- player Mike Stratton
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1973-09-03, Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers completed an exchange in which Buffalo Bills received 1974 fifth round pick (#106-Gary Hayman), while Los Angeles Chargers received Mike Stratton. The deal was modest in scale, but its core terms are clear enough to evaluate. The useful question is what each club actually turned the acquired player or selection into, rather than what the asset might have become in a different setting.
Buffalo Bills Return
Buffalo Bills came away with 1974 fifth round pick (#106-Gary Hayman). That side receives a C. The grade reflects direct football value from the acquired asset, including regular-season contribution, starting work, or identifiable draft value where applicable. A smaller return can still be useful, but the score stays proportional to the size of the exchange and the length of the benefit.
Los Angeles Chargers Return
Los Angeles Chargers received Mike Stratton, which earns a B. The same standard applies here. Immediate playing time counts, durable production counts more, and a selection that never produces meaningful NFL value receives limited credit. The comparison does not award extra value for possibilities that the historical record does not firmly establish.
Value in Hindsight
Buffalo sent Mike Stratton to San Diego for the 1974 fifth-round choice that became No. 106 Gary Hayman. Stratton started nine games and intercepted three passes for San Diego in 1973, creating the stronger immediate return. That supported outcome gives the clearest hindsight measure of the transaction. Minor date or pick-identity uncertainty remains visible when necessary, but it does not erase an exchange whose base terms are supported. The evaluation therefore follows the value that can be tied directly to what each club received.
Final Verdict
The final judgment is Los Angeles Chargers Win, reflecting the stronger supported return in hindsight. Buffalo Bills receives C, while Los Angeles Chargers receives B. The grades are intentionally scaled to the deal: a useful role or late-round return can win an exchange without being treated like a franchise-changing haul. The final call rests on realized football value and the strongest supported description of the package.