Chargers’ 2020 Kenneth Murray Trade Called Worst NFL Move Decade

The Los Angeles Chargers have experienced notable draft and trade missteps in the past decade, particularly highlighted by their 2020 NFL Draft decisions. While selecting franchise quarterback Justin Herbert at sixth overall was a success, their subsequent trade to move up to the 23rd pick to select linebacker Kenneth Murray is widely regarded as one of the worst trades in recent NFL history. Murray, despite some productive seasons, failed to live up to first-round expectations and was allowed to leave after four seasons, whereas staying at their original picks could have yielded more impactful players like Antoine Winfield Jr., Jonathan Taylor, or Jaylon Johnson. Similarly, a 2010 re-draft analysis suggests the Chargers missed an opportunity by trading up to draft running back Ryan Mathews instead of selecting offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva, who went undrafted but later had a successful NFL career. These examples underscore a pattern of draft-day decisions that hampered the Chargers' roster building, despite occasional bright spots such as Herbert's emergence as a franchise cornerstone.