San Diego sent star receiver John Jefferson to Green Bay in…
San Diego sent star receiver John Jefferson to Green Bay in 1981 and received Aundra Thompson, a first-round swap, additional first- and second-round choices, and another future second. The Chargers repeatedly recycled those assets into later moves, including the package for Wes Chandler. Jefferson remained productive in Green Bay, but San Diego extracted substantially more total roster-building value.
Green Bay Packers Received
- player John Jefferson
- pick Chargers option to swap 1982 first round picks with Packers (#22-Ron Hallstrom)
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- player Aundra Thompson
- pick Chargers option to swap 1982 first round picks with Packers (#13) [later traded with Aundra Thompson and 1982 third round pick (#76-John Krimm) to New Orleans Saints for Wes Chandler]
- pick 1983 first round pick (#20-Gary Anderson (Allan))
- pick 1982 second round pick (#40) [later traded with 1983 third round pick (#80-Steve Moore (a)) to New England Patriots for Tim Fox]
- pick 1984 second round pick (#39) [later traded to New York Jets for Abdul Salaam / Larry Faulk and Kenny Neil]
Trade Analysis
John Jefferson was a genuine star when San Diego dealt him, which is important context for both sides. Green Bay was not buying an ordinary receiver. The Packers paired Jefferson with James Lofton and received productive seasons from him, including a prominent role on one of the league's most dangerous passing attacks. That contribution makes an F grade far too harsh.
San Diego nevertheless won because of the scale and flexibility of the return. The Chargers received Aundra Thompson, the right to exchange 1982 first-round positions, a 1983 first-round pick, a 1982 second-round pick, and a 1984 second-round pick. Those assets did not remain static. The favorable 1982 position and Thompson became part of the package used to acquire Wes Chandler from New Orleans, giving San Diego an immediate high-level replacement for Jefferson. Other selections were later used in additional transactions, extending the value chain.
That downstream flexibility is the key distinction. Green Bay received one excellent player and enjoyed real offensive production, but San Diego converted Jefferson into a portfolio that helped replenish the roster over several seasons. It is a strong example of why a trade should be evaluated beyond the first player named in the transaction.
An A for the Chargers recognizes both the initial compensation and the successful reuse of those assets. Green Bay's C+ acknowledges that Jefferson was productive and that acquiring a star receiver carried a rational competitive purpose, while reflecting that the Packers paid a premium package and did not receive enough years of elite production to match San Diego's total return. The Chargers win, but the Packers' side deserves considerably more credit than an F.