Whether it has been as the Los Angeles Chargers, San Diego Chargers or once again the Los Angeles Chargers, the current AFC West franchise has carved out quite the lineage during its time as a member of the NFL.
After a one-year stint in Los Angeles to begin the organization's tenure as a professional franchise, the Chargers began their playing days in the AFL before joining the NFL as a result of the 1970 merger. Just recently returning to Los Angeles after more than six decades in San Diego, the Chargers are now trying to rebuild this franchise from the ground up.
Having been to the Super Bowl only once following one AFL title, the Chargers did become a perennial playoff team on a few different occasions since the 1970 merger. With the team watching success come and go, drafting well, landing impactful free agents and acquiring players via trade ultimately made this organization into what it is today.
However, the last portion of that statement is often forgotten, even though the Chargers have no doubt made some seriously significant trades over the years.
5. Eric Weddle (2007)
Although he has since played for a few different NFL franchises en route to retiring from the game after an illustrious playing career, longtime safety Eric Weddle was first a staple of the Chargers defense.
The Chargers initially selected Weddle in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft while first trading the team’s original second-round pick, two third-round picks and a fifth-round pick in order to be able to add the standout defensive back by moving up in the second round in 2007. With the Chicago Bears serving as the Chargers’ trade partner in this case, Weddle became the fifth safety off the board back in 2007 while San Diego surely knew something that other franchises did not.
4. Gill Byrd (1983)
With the 1983 NFL Draft going down as one of the best of all time thanks to the presence of legendary quarterbacks John Elway, Jim Kelly and Dan Marino, the Chargers actually went in an entirely different direction that year.
The Chargers traded a pair of second-round picks to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for the No. 22 overall pick in the first round of the 1983 draft. Because most teams were focused on selecting a quarterback, and for good reason, the Chargers moved up in order to select cornerback Gill Byrd.
Byrd then became one of the best defensive backs in Chargers history in addition to serving as the team’s all-time leader in interceptions with 42 picks. However, it is also worth noting that this trade was more of a win-win scenario as the 49ers ended up selecting running back Roger Craig with one of the second-round picks that the franchise received from the Chargers.
3. LaDainian Tomlinson (2001)
Because the Chargers selected Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson at No. 5 overall back in 2001, the trade that ultimately landed the prolific rusher is often forgotten.
The Chargers actually owned the No. 1 overall pick that season, but decided to trade it away to the Atlanta Falcons, who eventually selected quarterback Michael Vick.
Although missing out on Vick probably hurt for a bit, it is literally impossible to think of the Chargers franchise without including Tomlinson in the conversation. Not only that, but the Chargers also netted Falcons wide receiver Tim Dwight and three additional draft picks in the deal.
Even after retiring and reaching Canton as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Tomlinson still serves as the Chargers' all-time leading rusher to this day. While his entire stint in San Diego was memorable, Tomlinson's best single-season effort came in 2006 to the tune of scoring a NFL record 14 touchdowns across four games, 16 touchdowns across five games and and 19 touchdowns across six games—all of which amounted to 31 total touchdowns that season, another NFL record.
2. Leslie O’Neal (1986)
One of the best defensive players in team history, defensive end Leslie O'Neal was selected by San Diego as a result of the 1986 Draft—though the franchise needed to do some maneuvering in order to acquire his services. The Chargers were indeed forced to trade away a second-round NFL Draft pick to the Minnesota Vikings in order to slide up six spots in 1986.
However, such a deal ultimately allowed them to select O’Neal, who promptly went on to become the team’s all-time sacks leader. O'Neal, who finished his time in San Diego with with a whopping 105.5 sacks, certainly went on to become the better of the two players as the Vikings selected another defensive end in Gerald Robinson thanks to the 1986 trade with the Chargers.
1. Philip Rivers/Eli Manning (2004)
Certainly the most notable trade in the history of this franchise, the 2004 NFL Draft played centerstage for both the Chargers and New York Giants. With the Chargers picking at No. 1 overall and future Giants quarterback Eli Manning preferring to play in New York, San Diego ultimately wound up with a different signal-caller in Philip Rivers, who came off the board at No. 4 overall.
While the presence of Rivers—the franchise's all-time leading passer—changed the trajectory of the franchise for the better part of two decades (albeit Manning went on to win a pair of Super Bowls with the Giants), the Chargers also netted an additional three draft picks alongside the former North Carolina State standout. Two of those three picks turned out to be pretty important players as well in place kicker Nate Kaeding and linebacker Shawne Merriman.
Although Rivers' accolades and success in San Diego and Los Angeles speak for themselves, Kaeding went on to become the third-leading scorer in team history with Merriman recording 43.5 sacks in six seasons with the team.
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