Green Bay acquired veteran quarterback Lamar McHan from the…
Green Bay acquired veteran quarterback Lamar McHan from the Chicago Cardinals on May 22, 1959, in a conditional deal that cost the Packers a 1960 third-round pick only if McHan made the roster. He did, and the pick became No. 29 Charley Elley. McHan played 24 games for Green Bay across Vince Lombardi’s first two seasons, throwing for 1,322 yards and 11 touchdowns. Elley produced no comparable NFL regular-season value.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- pick 1960 conditional third round pick (if McHan makes Packers roster) (#29-Charley Elley)
Green Bay Packers Received
- player Lamar McHan
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Vince Lombardi wanted additional quarterback competition when he took over Green Bay in 1959. On May 22, the Packers acquired Lamar McHan from the Chicago Cardinals in an “if” deal. Contemporary Green Bay reporting explained the condition clearly: if McHan made the final roster, the Cardinals would receive a draft choice; if he did not, McHan would return and Green Bay would keep the selection. Draft-transaction records identify the activated compensation as the 1960 third-round pick, No. 29 overall.
What Green Bay Received
McHan made the team and gave Lombardi a veteran option during the coach’s first two seasons. NFL records credit McHan with 12 games in 1959, completing 48 of 108 passes for 805 yards, eight touchdowns and nine interceptions. In 1960 he again appeared in 12 games, adding 517 passing yards and three touchdowns. His Packers tenure was not long and Bart Starr ultimately became the franchise quarterback, but McHan provided 24 games of legitimate transitional quarterback service.
What the Cardinals Received
The Cardinals used No. 29 on Southern Mississippi center Charley Elley. Independent 1960 draft listings confirm both the player and the selection slot. Unlike McHan, Elley did not produce a comparable NFL regular-season playing career for the Cardinals. The pick therefore carried meaningful theoretical value but little realized professional return. Chicago/St. Louis did at least protect itself with a condition that ensured compensation only if McHan stuck in Green Bay.
Final Verdict
Green Bay Packers Win. The Packers did not acquire a star, so a B rather than an A is appropriate. They received two seasons of veteran quarterback play at a time when Lombardi was reshaping the roster, including 1,322 passing yards and 11 touchdowns. The Cardinals receive a D because the activated third-round selection did not generate comparable NFL service. The conditional structure was reasonable, but the realized value favored Green Bay.