Los Angeles Chargers received Mike Thomas in the exchange…

The Exchange

On 1979-05-18, San Diego acquired running back Mike Thomas from Washington for a 1980 fifth-round pick that Washington later used as part of another veteran-player transaction. The deal is best judged by what each club actually received afterward: games, starts, production, and draft value tied directly to the exchanged assets. That keeps a modest transaction proportional to the value it created. Los Angeles Chargers Return Thomas played 24 Chargers games with 14 starts over two seasons, producing 837 rushing yards, 606 receiving yards and four rushing touchdowns. San Diego received substantial offensive production from the veteran. The B+ grade reflects that result against the price Los Angeles Chargers surrendered. Sustained lineup value and useful draft capital raise the return, while brief service or no direct contribution keeps it lower. Washington Commanders Return Washington received the fifth-round selection that became No. 136 and later kept that draft capital useful in another transaction. The pick retained real value even though the strongest direct player production from this deal went to San Diego. The B grade applies the same standard to Washington Commanders, emphasizing production and downstream value connected to the package. Success that occurred only after an asset left the club does not add extra credit here. Value in Hindsight Both sides extracted something useful: San Diego got two productive seasons, while Washington maintained tradeable draft capital. Thomas' combined rushing and receiving output gives the Chargers the edge, but Washington's retained asset value keeps the grades close. The comparison stays centered on duration, starts, production, and useful draft outcomes. A small trade does not require a large grade gap unless the documented returns clearly separated. Final Verdict The final call is Los Angeles Chargers Win. Los Angeles Chargers earns B+, and Washington Commanders earns B. The conclusion follows the package each club received, the service that followed, and downstream value that can be connected confidently to this exchange. Those grades keep the result tied to realized football value rather than reputation alone.