Cincinnati acquired veteran safety Kenny Graham from San…
Cincinnati acquired veteran safety Kenny Graham from San Diego for the 1971 fifth-round pick that became Phil Asack at No. 119. Graham started five games for the Bengals in 1970 and intercepted three passes before being released in November. Asack was drafted by the Chargers but never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. Cincinnati received brief but real defensive production, enough to win a modest-value trade.
Cincinnati Bengals Received
- player Kenny Graham
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- pick 1971 fifth round pick (#119-Phil Asack)
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
The Bengals acquired veteran safety Kenny Graham from San Diego on August 4, 1970 for a future draft choice. Cincinnati’s historical transaction record later identifies the compensation as the 119th overall pick in the 1971 draft, a fifth-round selection the Chargers used on defensive end Phil Asack. That makes the exchange a useful comparison between immediate veteran help and a future mid-round chance.
What Cincinnati Received
Graham arrived with an accomplished AFL résumé and immediately entered Cincinnati’s lineup. Pro Football Archives credits him with five games and five starts for the Bengals in 1970. His stay was brief, but it was productive: contemporary statistical records credit Graham with three interceptions during those five games. Cincinnati released him in November, and he finished the season with Pittsburgh, so the Bengals did not obtain long-term value. Still, five starts and three takeaways are meaningful results from a player acquired for a fifth-round pick.
What San Diego Received
The Chargers turned Graham into the 119th selection of the 1971 draft and chose Asack. Recovering a future pick for a veteran was sensible roster management, but the selection did not convert into regular-season production. Asack signed with San Diego and was released without appearing in an NFL regular-season game. He returned to the club again the following year but still did not establish an NFL playing record.
Final Verdict
Cincinnati wins narrowly because Graham produced actual defensive value while the draft choice generated none for San Diego. The Bengals did not keep Graham long enough to justify a high grade, so B- reflects a useful but short-lived return. The Chargers receive C-: obtaining a fifth-round pick was reasonable process at the time, but the resulting player never reached the regular-season field. The realized outcome is therefore a modest Bengals victory rather than an even trade.