San Diego acquired tight end Pat Curran and running back…
San Diego acquired tight end Pat Curran and running back Howard Strickland from the Rams for a 1977 third-round choice. Curran immediately became a productive Chargers starter, catching 45 passes for 619 yards in 1975 and starting all 14 games in each of his first two San Diego seasons. The Rams used No. 68 on Ed Fulton, whose NFL career lasted nine games. San Diego won decisively.
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- player Pat Curran
- player Howard Strickland
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick 1977 third round pick (#68-Ed Fulton)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
San Diego acquired tight end Pat Curran and running back Howard Strickland from the Rams on August 13, 1975, for a third-round selection in the 1977 draft. Chargers historical records state the package directly. The Rams later used the acquired No. 68 choice on Maryland guard Ed Fulton.
What San Diego Received
Curran made the trade worthwhile almost immediately. In 1975 he started all 14 games and caught 45 passes for 619 yards. He started all 14 again in 1976, adding 33 receptions for 349 yards, and remained with San Diego through 1978. For an offense seeking a dependable receiving tight end, the Chargers obtained several seasons of genuine starting production. Strickland was a secondary part of the package, so the grade does not depend on inflating his contribution.
What Los Angeles Received
Fulton was a legitimate third-round prospect, but the NFL result was minimal. He appeared in only nine career games and never made a regular-season start. A future third-round selection carried reasonable theoretical value when the Rams made the deal, yet the selected player's career did not approach Curran's output for San Diego.
Why San Diego Wins
The trade compares several years from a productive starting tight end against nine reserve games from the draft return. Curran's first Chargers season alone produced 619 receiving yards, and he followed it with another full year as a starter. That is far more realized value than Los Angeles obtained from Fulton.
Final Verdict
San Diego receives an A- and the Rams a D+. The Chargers paid a sensible third-round price and landed an immediate, multi-year starter. Los Angeles preserved draft capital but failed to convert it into meaningful NFL production. San Diego wins by a wide margin.