The Rams sent the 138th pick to San Diego for the 215th pick…
The Rams sent the 138th pick to San Diego for the 215th pick and a 1998 fourth-rounder. The Chargers used No. 138 on Kenny Bynum, who played 53 NFL games but never became a major offensive piece. St. Louis turned the future fourth-rounder into Az-Zahir Hakim, a productive receiver and returner on the Greatest Show on Turf. That delayed asset made the Rams the clear winner.
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- pick 1997 5th round pick (138th overall, Kenny Bynum)
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick 1997 7th round pick (215th overall, Cedric White)
- pick 1998 4th round pick (96th overall, Az-Zahir Hakim)
Trade Analysis
Why the Rams Accepted Future Value
St. Louis moved down from the fifth round to the seventh and added a 1998 fourth-round selection. That structure traded immediate draft position for a better future asset. The seventh-rounder became Cedric White, but the real value of the deal was the future pick that eventually landed at No. 96.
What San Diego Received
The Chargers used No. 138 on running back Kenny Bynum. He played 53 NFL games and rushed for 433 yards with one touchdown over his career. That is legitimate depth value from a fifth-round pick, but Bynum never became a primary offensive player. San Diego got a usable professional without receiving a difference-maker.
How the Future Pick Changed Everything
The Rams used the 1998 fourth-round pick on Az-Zahir Hakim. Hakim played 110 NFL games, caught 316 passes for 4,191 yards and 28 touchdowns, and also became a dangerous punt returner. His best years came with St. Louis, where he contributed to the Greatest Show on Turf and the Super Bowl XXXIV championship team. That level of production dwarfed the value of the pick surrendered.
Final Verdict
Los Angeles Rams Win. St. Louis earns an A for turning a fifth-round slot into a future fourth that became a major offensive and special-teams contributor. The Chargers receive a C because Bynum provided some useful depth but not enough to match Hakim's impact. The extra year of patience mattered: St. Louis accepted a lower immediate pick, then turned the future fourth-rounder into a player who contributed as both a receiver and returner on an elite offense.