The Chargers received Ed Philpott, but he did not appear on…
The Chargers received Ed Philpott, but he did not appear on San Diego's 1972 or 1973 regular-season rosters. The player therefore produced little direct football value for the club after the exchange. That outcome supports a D+ grade within the Even Trade verdict. The grade reflects realized football value rather than the size of the original package.
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- player Ed Philpott
New England Patriots Received
- pick 1973 seventh round pick (#163-Benny Shepherd; later traded to Miami for Bill Griffin )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1972-03-27, Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots completed an exchange in which Los Angeles Chargers received Ed Philpott, while New England Patriots received 1973 seventh round pick (#163-Benny Shepherd; later traded to Miami for Bill Griffin). The later careers and downstream use of those assets make the hindsight comparison meaningful. The strongest evaluation comes from weighing what each side actually received and what those pieces produced after the deal.
San Diego Chargers Return
The Chargers received Ed Philpott, but he did not appear on San Diego's 1972 or 1973 regular-season rosters. The player therefore produced little direct football value for the club after the exchange. That outcome supports a D+ grade within the Even Trade verdict. The grade reflects realized football value rather than the size of the original package.
Boston/New England Patriots Return
New England received the 1973 seventh-round choice at No. 163, Benny Shepherd, and later sent that choice to Miami for Bill Griffin. That chain did not yield a meaningful Patriots playing return either, leaving the two sides similarly limited. That outcome supports a D+ grade within the Even Trade verdict. The grade reflects realized football value rather than the size of the original package.
Value in Hindsight
San Diego's official trade history confirms Ed Philpott came from New England for a 1973 seventh-round choice, and the draft records identifies it as No. 163 Benny Shepherd before New England sent that choice to Miami for Bill Griffin. Philpott never appeared on San Diego's 1972 or 1973 regular-season rosters, leaving little realized value either way. That evidence makes the relative value easier to judge with the benefit of completed careers and documented transaction history. It also keeps the comparison proportional to the scale of the deal instead of overstating a modest exchange.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. The grades reflect the difference in realized football value while keeping the size and era of the transaction in perspective. Where both returns were limited, the grades remain modest; where one side produced a durable contributor, the advantage is correspondingly larger.