Minnesota sent veteran linebacker Jeff Siemon to San Diego on…
Minnesota sent veteran linebacker Jeff Siemon to San Diego on May 28, 1982 for a 1983 draft choice. Chargers trade histories disagree on the round, so the exact selection should not be overstated. Siemon retired during Chargers camp, was released, then returned to Minnesota and played nine games in 1982, leaving an unusual transaction with limited lasting separation.
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- player Jeff Siemon
Minnesota Vikings Received
- pick 1983 draft choice (round and selection disputed in surviving Chargers histories)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On May 28, 1982, Minnesota traded longtime linebacker Jeff Siemon to San Diego for a 1983 draft choice. Chargers historical materials agree on the player movement and future pick but conflict on whether the choice was in the sixth or eighth round. That conflict matters, so the exchange is best stated at the level both versions support: Siemon for a 1983 draft choice.
Minnesota Vikings Return
Minnesota moved a decorated veteran who had already played ten seasons for the franchise. Siemon had been a four-time Pro Bowler and a central linebacker on the Vikings teams that reached three Super Bowls during his tenure. The future choice gave Minnesota value for an aging player, but the exact round and downstream selection are not secure enough to credit a specific drafted player to this deal.
San Diego Chargers Return
San Diego's hoped-for veteran addition never became a regular-season Chargers contribution. Pro Football Archives lists Siemon as traded to San Diego, released in early September, then signed again by Minnesota two days later. He played nine games for the Vikings in the strike-shortened 1982 season and finished his entire regular-season career in Minnesota. That sharply limits the Chargers' realized return.
Value in Hindsight
The transaction is unusual because the player quickly came back to his original club while the surviving Chargers histories disagree about the draft round. Those facts make precision more important than forcing a winner. Minnesota apparently obtained future draft value, while San Diego had only a brief offseason association with Siemon before he returned to the Vikings.
Final Verdict
Both sides receive C+ grades. Minnesota deserves credit for creating draft compensation for a veteran near the end of his career, but the exact pick outcome is not established here. San Diego made a reasonable veteran gamble, yet Siemon never played a regular-season game for the Chargers. The odd sequence produces an Even Trade rather than a confident win.