Los Angeles Chargers received 2025 6th round pick (181st…
Los Angeles Chargers received 2025 6th round pick (181st overall; subsequently traded by Los Angeles) in the 2023-10-04 exchange with New England Patriots. Los Angeles moved on from an expensive cornerback situation and gained the better 2025 draft position, creating a modest practical benefit despite dead money. The direct return and the football value it produced drive the hindsight judgment. Against the assets Los Angeles Chargers surrendered, the result supports Los Angeles Chargers Win and a B- grade for Los Angeles Chargers.
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- pick 2025 6th round pick (181st overall; subsequently traded by Los Angeles)
New England Patriots Received
- player J.C. Jackson
- pick 2025 7th round pick (238th overall; subsequently traded by New England)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 2023-10-04, Los Angeles Chargers received 2025 6th round pick (181st overall; subsequently traded by Los Angeles), while New England Patriots received J.C. Jackson; 2025 7th round pick (238th overall; subsequently traded by New England). The comparison is limited to the consideration each club controlled directly after the transaction. Later moves involving an acquired pick or player are separate transactions, so they are used only to explain provenance when useful and are not counted as additional compensation here.
Los Angeles Chargers Return
Los Angeles moved on from an expensive cornerback situation and gained the better 2025 draft position, creating a modest practical benefit despite dead money. The practical question is how much useful football value the incoming side actually created through starts, playing time, production, roster longevity, or retained draft capital. That return is weighed against what Los Angeles Chargers gave up, with the size of the transaction kept in proportion.
New England Patriots Return
J.C. Jackson played only eight games and six starts in his second Patriots stint before his release, so the reunion produced little durable value. The same standard applies to New England Patriots. A larger number of pieces does not automatically mean a better trade; quality and durability matter more than raw asset count. That keeps the comparison centered on realized football value rather than the appearance of the package on the day of the exchange.
Value in Hindsight
New England reacquired J.C. Jackson but received only eight games and six starts before releasing him. Los Angeles gained the 2025 sixth-versus-seventh draft-position upgrade and later used the sixth-round asset in a move up the board. The Chargers get a modest result edge despite substantial dead-money cost. The exchange is documented well enough to support a firm hindsight judgment. The grades reflect the difference between what each side received and what those assets actually became for the clubs, while avoiding credit for unrelated transactions that happened later. Short-term usefulness matters, but sustained starting value, premium production, or durable draft value carries more weight.
Final Verdict
Los Angeles Chargers receives a B- and New England Patriots receives a C-. The verdict is Los Angeles Chargers Win. This result reflects the direct package, the value each team actually realized, and the separation created by those outcomes rather than the nominal size of either side's return.