San Diego acquired running back Tony Baker from the Los…

The Exchange

San Diego acquired running back Tony Baker from the Los Angeles Rams on September 15, 1975. The Chargers sent one 1976 fifth-round selection, later identified as No. 128 Carl Ekern. A separate 1977 fifth-round pick associated with Cliff Olander belongs to another Chargers transaction and should not be counted as part of Baker's price. Los Angeles Chargers Return The Chargers received a veteran running back at a mid-to-late draft cost. Baker was a legitimate NFL player, so the acquisition was not devoid of value, but his San Diego tenure did not develop into a long-term cornerstone outcome. The fifth-round price was manageable, yet the player return was too limited to match what the Rams ultimately obtained from the selection. Los Angeles Rams Return Los Angeles converted Baker into No. 128 and used that choice on Carl Ekern. Ekern became a durable Rams linebacker and produced the kind of sustained contribution that dramatically exceeds the typical expectation for a fifth-round pick. That long-term value gives the Rams a strong result even after removing the unrelated Cliff Olander asset from the comparison. Value in Hindsight The one-pick package actually makes the trade cleaner, not closer. San Diego paid only one fifth-round pick, which prevents the deal from looking more expensive than it was. Even so, the specific selection became a long-term contributor for the Rams, while Baker did not provide comparable lasting value to the Chargers. The difference in realized outcomes is substantial. Final Verdict The Rams earn a B+ and the Chargers a C-. Los Angeles turned a veteran back into a fifth-round pick that became Carl Ekern, while San Diego received only limited return from Baker. The Rams win clearly on the direct one-player-for-one-pick exchange.