The Chargers acquired the rights to Navy running back…
The Chargers acquired the rights to Navy running back Napoleon McCallum from the Raiders on October 11, 1988, sending back major draft value connected to the earlier Jim Lachey trade. McCallum did not play a regular-season down for San Diego while serving his military commitment. The Raiders recovered draft capital, and the Chargers later sent McCallum back to the Raiders in 1990 for only a late future choice.
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- pick 1989 third round pick (#68-Rhondy Weston)
- pick 1989 fourth round pick (#95-Markus Paul)
- pick 1990 fourth round pick (#92-Dean Caliguire)
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- player Napoleon McCallum
Trade Analysis
Why San Diego Pursued McCallum
The Chargers acquired Napoleon McCallum's rights from the Raiders on October 11, 1988 as the Jim Lachey-John Clay transaction continued to evolve. McCallum had shown promise as a Raiders rookie in 1986, but his Navy service kept him away from the NFL in 1987 and 1988. San Diego was betting that a future assignment would allow him to return to football and eventually strengthen the backfield.
What the Chargers Gave Back
Draft records tie the McCallum move to significant compensation flowing back to the Raiders, including the 1989 third- and fourth-round choices and a 1990 fourth-round component. Contemporary reporting later explained that San Diego also lost an additional fourth-round choice when McCallum reported to camp, even though he never played in a regular-season game for the Chargers. The transaction therefore became more expensive than a simple rights swap.
How the Outcome Collapsed
McCallum's military obligations prevented San Diego from getting the immediate return it needed. He remained on the military reserve list and did not play a regular-season down for the Chargers. In April 1990, the Raiders reacquired him from San Diego for a future late-round choice. That completed a painful cycle in which the Chargers paid meaningful draft value for rights they never converted into game production.
Final Verdict
The Raiders receive a B+ because they recovered valuable draft capital while ultimately getting McCallum back. San Diego gets a D+ because the upside case never reached the field, despite a meaningful cost tied to the broader Lachey transaction. The uncertainty surrounding McCallum's Navy service was obvious from the start, and the Chargers absorbed nearly all of the downside.