Los Angeles Chargers received 2008 3rd round pick (69th…
Los Angeles Chargers received 2008 3rd round pick (69th overall, Jacob Hester) in the 2008-04-27 exchange with New England Patriots. Jacob Hester became a useful role player for San Diego, but the cost included meaningful future draft capital. The direct package, rather than later movement of any acquired asset, is the basis for the hindsight judgment. Against what Los Angeles Chargers surrendered, the result supports New England Patriots Win.
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- pick 2008 3rd round pick (69th overall, Jacob Hester )
New England Patriots Received
- pick 2008 5th round pick (160th overall; subsequently traded by New England)
- pick 2009 2nd round pick (47th overall; subsequently traded by New England)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 2008-04-27, Los Angeles Chargers received 2008 3rd round pick (69th overall, Jacob Hester), while New England Patriots received 2008 5th round pick (160th overall; subsequently traded by New England) and 2009 2nd round pick (47th overall; subsequently traded by New England). The direct compensation defines this transaction. Any later trade involving an acquired selection or player is a separate event and is not credited back to this exchange. That keeps the comparison centered on what each club controlled immediately after the deal.
Los Angeles Chargers Return
Jacob Hester became a useful role player for San Diego, but the cost included meaningful future draft capital. For Los Angeles Chargers, the useful measure is the football value actually created by the incoming side: playing time, starts, sustained roster usefulness, and retained draft value. That return is weighed against the specific assets sent away here, without borrowing value from a later move by another club.
New England Patriots Return
New England received a fifth-round choice plus a future second, a stronger capital package even though both selections were later moved. The same standard applies to New England Patriots. The question is not how many pieces changed hands, but whether the direct return became meaningful and durable for the franchise. That keeps a minor transaction proportional while still allowing a directional grade when one side clearly did more with the assets it received.
Value in Hindsight
The Chargers moved up to No. 69 for Jacob Hester, sending New England No. 160 and a 2009 second-round choice. New England later rerouted those draft assets; their later player labels are downstream, but the future second still gave the Patriots the stronger direct capital return. The long-term comparison therefore turns on realized contribution and the quality of the direct asset package, not on names attached to selections after those selections moved again. Where the evidence remains close, an even result is preferable to forcing separation; where one side created a clear practical advantage, the grades reflect that difference.
Final Verdict
Los Angeles Chargers receives a C and New England Patriots receives a B. The verdict is New England Patriots Win. This conclusion reflects the direct exchange, the subsequent value each club actually realized from its return, and the scale of the transaction. It does not treat later unrelated asset movement as part of the original deal.