San Diego traded guard Jeff Walker to the Los Angeles Rams…
San Diego traded guard Jeff Walker to the Los Angeles Rams for an eleventh-round choice in the 1988 draft, No. 285, which became center Ed Miller. Walker gave the Rams an experienced offensive lineman for the 1987 season, while Miller represented a low-cost developmental swing for San Diego. The exchange stayed modest, but the Rams received the more immediate and dependable football value.
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- pick 1988 eleventh round pick (#285-Ed Miller)
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Jeff Walker
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
San Diego moved veteran guard Jeff Walker to the Los Angeles Rams in September 1987 for the Rams' eleventh-round selection in the 1988 draft. That choice settled at No. 285, where the Chargers selected Pittsburgh center Ed Miller. The structure was simple: an experienced lineman for one of the final meaningful pieces of draft capital available under the old twelve-round format. San Diego Chargers Return For San Diego, the appeal was turning a movable veteran into a younger offensive-line prospect without taking on another contract. Miller was a center from Pittsburgh selected deep in the draft, so expectations were naturally limited. The Chargers created a developmental opportunity from a player they were prepared to send elsewhere, but the pick did not become a defining roster piece or produce a major long-term return. Los Angeles Rams Return The Rams received Walker, an established guard who could provide immediate depth and experience. That mattered more in the short term than the remote upside of an eleventh-round choice. Los Angeles did not give away a premium selection, and the cost was low enough that even ordinary veteran service could justify the move. Walker therefore supplied the clearer practical return from the exchange. Value in Hindsight The trade is a useful example of how late-round capital and veteran certainty can balance each other. San Diego preserved some future value, but an eleventh-rounder had long odds of becoming a significant NFL contributor. Los Angeles instead bought a known professional lineman at a very small draft cost. Neither side gained a cornerstone, yet the Rams converted the transaction into more immediate football utility. Final Verdict The Rams earn a B and San Diego a B-. Los Angeles paid very little for usable veteran depth, while the Chargers at least recovered a draft asset for Walker. Because Miller did not create a large long-term payoff, the Rams hold the slight edge rather than San Diego turning the late selection into the better outcome.