Dallas Cowboys received 1977 eighth round pick (#208-Al…
Dallas Cowboys received 1977 eighth round pick (#208-Al Cleveland) from Los Angeles Chargers. Al Cleveland never produced an NFL regular-season career, so Dallas did not realize meaningful on-field value from the selection it acquired. The D grade reflects the direct value Dallas Cowboys realized from the transaction, with the final Los Angeles Chargers Win call based on actual service and clearly traceable draft outcomes rather than projected value.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- pick 1977 eighth round pick (#208-Al Cleveland)
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- player Toni Fritsch
- pick 1977 tenth round pick (selection not identified)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1976-09-06, San Diego received kicker Toni Fritsch and a 1977 tenth-round choice, while Dallas received pick 208, an eighth-round selection used on Al Cleveland. The comparison centers on what each club actually received after the transaction, including regular-season service and draft outcomes that can be tied directly to the exchanged assets. That approach keeps a small historical deal proportional to the value it ultimately created.
Dallas Cowboys Return
Dallas Cowboys received 1977 eighth round pick (#208-Al Cleveland) from Los Angeles Chargers. Al Cleveland never produced an NFL regular-season career, so Dallas did not realize meaningful on-field value from the selection it acquired. The D grade reflects the direct value Dallas Cowboys realized from the transaction, with the final Los Angeles Chargers Win call based on actual service and clearly traceable draft outcomes rather than projected value.
San Diego Chargers Return
Los Angeles Chargers received Toni Fritsch; 1977 tenth round pick (selection not identified) from Dallas Cowboys. Fritsch appeared in five games for San Diego, providing limited but real kicking service, while the accompanying tenth-round selection is not securely tied to a specific player. The C grade reflects the direct value Los Angeles Chargers realized from the transaction, with the final Los Angeles Chargers Win call based on actual service and clearly traceable draft outcomes rather than projected value.
Value in Hindsight
The returns were modest, and San Diego's kicking results were not strong enough to justify a high grade. Still, a small amount of actual game contribution is more than Dallas received from pick 208. The grade gap stays limited when both sides received something useful and widens only when the documented returns clearly separated. This keeps the evaluation tied to the transaction itself instead of later reputation.
Final Verdict
The final call is Los Angeles Chargers Win. Dallas Cowboys earns D, and Los Angeles Chargers earns C. The Chargers earn a narrow win because Fritsch supplied some direct service while Dallas received no comparable on-field return. Those grades reflect the package each club received, the service that followed, and the downstream value that can be connected confidently to the original exchange.