Atlanta acquired veteran receiver Tony Martin from San Diego…
Atlanta acquired veteran receiver Tony Martin from San Diego for a 1999 second-round pick. Martin immediately delivered 66 catches, 1,181 yards and six touchdowns for the 14-2 Falcons, helping the franchise reach its first Super Bowl. San Diego used the No. 60 pick on Jermaine Fazande, who played 20 games and rushed for 733 career yards. Atlanta received the much larger immediate payoff.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- player Tony Martin
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- pick 1999 2nd round pick (60th overall, Jermaine Fazande)
Trade Analysis
Why Atlanta Made the Veteran Bet
The Falcons acquired Tony Martin from San Diego on June 4, 1998, sending the Chargers a 1999 second-round pick. Martin had produced three straight seasons of at least 900 receiving yards for San Diego, including two 1,100-yard seasons. Atlanta was not buying projection; it was adding a proven vertical receiver to a team that was ready to make an unexpected championship run.
What Martin Did for the Falcons
The trade paid off immediately. Martin started all 16 games in 1998 and caught 66 passes for 1,181 yards and six touchdowns. He averaged 17.9 yards per reception and gave Chris Chandler a major downfield target opposite Terance Mathis. Atlanta finished 14-2, won the NFC and reached the first Super Bowl in franchise history. Martin left for Miami the following season, so this was essentially a one-year acquisition, but the one year arrived at exactly the right time.
What San Diego Received
The future second-round pick became No. 60 in the 1999 draft, which the Chargers used on running back Jermaine Fazande. Fazande played 20 NFL games and rushed 210 times for 733 yards and four touchdowns. He was not a complete miss, but his career was short and he never developed into a long-term offensive centerpiece. The value was far below what Atlanta received during its championship season.
Final Verdict
Atlanta Falcons Win. Atlanta earns an A- because a second-round pick bought a 1,181-yard receiver who helped drive the franchise to a Super Bowl appearance. San Diego receives a C+ because Fazande did provide real rushing production, just not enough of it for long enough to match Martin’s impact. For a contender, maximizing one season can be worth the future asset, and Atlanta did exactly that.