Raiders Get Lachey from Chargers : Clay Goes to San Diego as Teams Exchange Offensive Tackles

Pro Bowl tackle Jim Lachey got his wish Saturday when the San Diego Chargers traded him to the Raiders for second-year tackle John Clay and two unspecified high draft choices.

Ten teams were reported to have expressed an interest in Lachey, but none offered as much as the Raiders, said Steve Ortmayer, the Chargers’ director of football operations.

“The offer the Raiders made for Lachey was the best offer we got by far,” Ortmayer said. “It had to be. Otherwise, we never would have traded within our own division.”

Raider Coach Mike Shanahan said in Oxnard that a chance to get Lachey was too good to pass up.

“Left tackle is one of the toughest positions, and few players dominate on the offensive line like Jim Lachey,” Shanahan said. “He has the ability to pass-protect as well as run-block. When you get a chance to acquire somebody like that, who wouldn’t go for it?.”

Lachey, 6 feet 6 inches and 288 pounds, was the Chargers’ first-round draft pick out of Ohio State in 1985. He left Columbus, Ohio, to fly to the Raiders’ camp late Saturday afternoon. Clay left Oxnard to drive to San Diego Saturday night.

Clay, 6-5 and 295, was the first lineman and 15th player overall chosen in the 1987 NFL draft. He was a consensus All-American tackle in 1986, his senior year at Missouri.

The Raiders will make room for Lachey by moving Bruce Wilkerson, their second-round choice last year, to right tackle.

Before Saturday, the Raiders and Chargers hadn’t worked a trade since 1976, when the Chargers dealt nose tackle Dave Rowe.

Also before Saturday, the Chargers had a big hole to fill at left tackle. Lachey was supposed to have reported to training camp Monday.

By Thursday, he contacted the Chargers and informed them that he wasn’t coming. Word was that Lachey, 25, wanted to play with a team closer to his Columbus home.

Ortmayer said Thursday he would attempt to trade Lachey, and Friday, Lachey’s agent, Leigh Steinberg, said his client would go to any team the Chargers picked.

Meanwhile, three contenders for the Raider quarterback position all put up solid numbers during the team’s scrimmage at Oxnard.

Steve Beuerlein, in his second season from Notre Dame, completed 6 of 10 passes for 64 yards and one touchdown; Vince Evans hit 3 of 4 for 63 yards, and Jim Plunkett completed 6 of 8 for 88 yards and one touchdown.