Buffalo acquired quarterback Kay Stephenson from the Chargers…
Buffalo acquired quarterback Kay Stephenson from the Chargers and received immediate playing time in 1968. Stephenson appeared in ten games and handled a substantial amount of passing work, giving the Bills useful quarterback depth and real regular-season snaps. The fifth-round pick sent to the Chargers did not produce a comparable return for Los Angeles, so Buffalo's realized value supports a B- grade.
Buffalo Bills Received
- player Kay Stephenson
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- pick 1969 fifth round pick (#105-Ben Mayes)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1968-06-08, Buffalo Bills received Kay Stephenson, while Los Angeles Chargers received 1969 fifth round pick (#105-Ben Mayes). The deal can be judged by the value each franchise actually controlled after the exchange: direct playing time, useful roster service, and clearly documented movement of any draft choice. Those later results provide the basis for comparing the two returns.
Buffalo Bills Return
Buffalo acquired quarterback Kay Stephenson from the Chargers and received immediate playing time in 1968. Stephenson appeared in ten games and handled a substantial amount of passing work, giving the Bills useful quarterback depth and real regular-season snaps. The fifth-round pick sent to the Chargers did not produce a comparable return for Los Angeles, so Buffalo's realized value supports a B- grade. The grade reflects the actual usefulness of that return rather than the reputation or theoretical value attached to the asset on the day of the deal.
Los Angeles Chargers Return
The Chargers received the 1969 fifth-round pick used on Ben Mayes when Buffalo acquired Kay Stephenson. Mayes did not become a Chargers regular-season contributor and later appeared only briefly elsewhere in the league. Los Angeles therefore gained less practical football value than Buffalo received from Stephenson's immediate quarterback work, leaving the Chargers with a D+ grade in the exchange. The same standard applies to this side: tangible playing value and clearly retained draft capital matter more than an eventual selection made by a different franchise.
Value in Hindsight
Stephenson's Buffalo tenure was not a long-term solution, but quarterback snaps carry real utility, especially when an acquired player appears in ten games soon after the deal. The Chargers held a fifth-round selection but did not convert it into similar roster value. That contrast supports Buffalo without treating the transaction as more consequential than it was.
Final Verdict
The final call is Buffalo Bills Win. Buffalo Bills earns B-, and Los Angeles Chargers earns D+. Those grades reflect the supported package and the relative football value each side realized, while keeping later draft movement in the proper franchise context.