San Diego acquired defensive tackle Bob Brown from Green Bay…
San Diego acquired defensive tackle Bob Brown from Green Bay on September 5, 1974 for a 1975 third-round selection. Green Bay used the acquired pick at No. 58 on running back Willard Harrell. Harrell played three seasons for the Packers, rushing for 934 yards while adding 656 receiving yards and serving in a substantial offensive role before continuing his career in St. Louis. That balance of realized value gives the edge to Green Bay Packers.
Green Bay Packers Received
- pick 1975 third round pick (#58-Willard Harrell)
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- player Bob Brown (Eddie)
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
San Diego acquired defensive tackle Bob Brown from Green Bay on September 5, 1974 for a 1975 third-round selection. The exchange fit a common 1970s roster calculation: one club preferred an established player or immediate help, while the other accepted draft capital or a different asset path. The important hindsight question is not the nominal round alone, but what each team actually received once the move played out.
What Green Bay Packers Received
Green Bay used the acquired pick at No. 58 on running back Willard Harrell. For Green Bay Packers, that outcome is the main measure of the return. Immediate playing time matters, but so do durability, starts, scoring, and whether the acquired asset remained useful beyond a short stop. The result gives Green Bay Packers a B+ because the club's realized contribution must be judged against what it surrendered.
What Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers Received
Harrell played three seasons for the Packers, rushing for 934 yards while adding 656 receiving yards and serving in a substantial offensive role before continuing his career in St. Louis. That gives Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers a different value profile from the other side. A draft choice only becomes valuable when it turns into useful football production, while a veteran's value depends on how much he actually contributes after the trade. On that basis, Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers earns a C+.
Why the Verdict Lands Here
Brown gave San Diego immediate defensive help, but Harrell's multiple seasons of direct Green Bay production made the draft choice the more durable return. The comparison therefore rests on direct, realized NFL value rather than the theoretical price of the assets on the day of the deal. Longevity and meaningful contribution carry more weight than a pick number by itself, and a short stay can still matter when the opposing return produces even less.
Final Verdict
Green Bay Packers Win. Green Bay Packers receives a B+, while Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers receives a C+. The grades reflect the confirmed package and the football contribution that followed for each franchise.