San Diego acquired Jerry LeVias, who gave the Chargers four…
San Diego acquired Jerry LeVias, who gave the Chargers four seasons of receiving and return work with substantial starting time. The longer tenure gave San Diego steady offensive and special-teams value from one player. That durability is a real advantage, although Houston received two immediate starters in the same exchange, keeping the overall comparison much closer than LeVias' longevity alone might suggest.
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- player Jerry LeVias
Tennessee Titans Received
- player Ron Billingsley
- player Eugene Ferguson / Gene Ferguson
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1971-07-26, Los Angeles Chargers received Jerry LeVias, while Tennessee Titans received Ron Billingsley and Eugene Ferguson / Gene Ferguson. The value question is not which side collected more names or nominal draft slots, but what those assets actually produced for the clubs that controlled them. The completed historical research makes the direct return on each side clear enough to compare without crediting later transactions that required separate consideration.
Los Angeles Chargers Return
San Diego acquired Jerry LeVias, who gave the Chargers four seasons of receiving and return work with substantial starting time. The longer tenure gave San Diego steady offensive and special-teams value from one player. That durability is a real advantage, although Houston received two immediate starters in the same exchange, keeping the overall comparison much closer than LeVias' longevity alone might suggest.
Tennessee Titans Return
Houston received Ron Billingsley and Gene Ferguson, and both supplied meaningful starting service during the 1971 season. Their Oilers tenures were shorter than Jerry LeVias' stay in San Diego, but the package delivered two immediate contributors at once. That front-loaded value balances much of the Chargers' longevity advantage and supports an even assessment of the two returns.
Value in Hindsight
The best way to judge this exchange is by the football value directly created by the original consideration. San Diego acquired Jerry LeVias, who gave the Chargers four seasons of receiving and return work with substantial starting time. Houston received Ron Billingsley and Gene Ferguson, and both supplied meaningful starting service during the 1971 season. That comparison keeps later moves separate and gives proper weight to starting service, useful depth, longevity, and the actual results of the draft capital involved.
Final Verdict
Los Angeles Chargers receives a B- and Tennessee Titans receives a B-. The verdict is Even Trade. The grade spread reflects the scale of the direct return: a decisive edge where one club secured sustained production, a narrower edge where the difference was modest, and equal marks when neither side created enough value to separate itself.