Atlanta Falcons–Las Vegas Raiders Trade History

On 1972-08-01, Atlanta Falcons received Duane Benson, while Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders received draft pick. The hindsight verdict is Atlanta Falcons Win, with Atlanta Falcons graded C+ and Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders graded C. The evaluation follows the documented consideration and the football value that can be traced from it, while keeping unverified downstream pick identities or conditional outcomes out of the final judgment.

Atlanta Falcons received rights to Bret Clark from Las Vegas Raiders. Bret Clark started 28 of 29 games for Atlanta and recorded nine interceptions, turning the acquired rights into substantial multi-year secondary value. That realized return supports a B grade for Atlanta Falcons. The final verdict is Even Trade, based on the regular-season service and draft value each club actually received after the exchange.

Atlanta acquired wide receiver Jessie Hester from the Raiders on August 22, 1988 for a 1989 choice described at the time as a fourth- or fifth-rounder. The selection ultimately resolved to No. 119, Willis Crockett. Hester offered Atlanta veteran receiving depth, but his Falcons tenure was brief, while the Raiders preserved a useful middle-round asset. That gives Oakland the modest hindsight edge.

Atlanta acquired Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson from the Raiders for a conditional 1994 pick that would have risen to the fifth round if he reached 1,000 rushing yards. Dickerson did not reach that threshold, so the compensation settled as the sixth-round selection used on Jay Kearney. Atlanta received only a short final chapter from an aging star, while the Raiders at least converted his departure into draft value.

Oakland sent safety Patrick Bates to Atlanta on April 18, 1996 and received the 48th pick in the draft. Bates started nine games for the Falcons that season but never played another NFL game. The Raiders did not use No. 48 themselves; two days later they included it in the package sent to Houston to move up for Rickey Dudley. Turning a short-lived veteran into meaningful draft-day leverage gives the Raiders the clear edge.

Oakland acquired tackle Lincoln Kennedy from Atlanta in May 1996 for a 1997 fifth-round pick. Kennedy became a cornerstone of the Raiders’ offensive line, starting 119 games for the franchise, earning three Pro Bowl selections and first-team All-Pro honors in 2002, and helping Oakland reach Super Bowl XXXVII. Atlanta received only a late-round asset that never approached that value. Getting an elite long-term starter for a fifth-round pick makes this an overwhelming Raiders win.

Oakland moved from No. 18 to No. 17 in the 2002 draft, sending Atlanta the 18th pick and a fifth-rounder to select cornerback Phillip Buchanon. Atlanta used the acquired first-rounder on running back T.J. Duckett and the fifth-round pick on quarterback Kurt Kittner. Buchanon had the longest and most productive career, while Duckett became a useful rotational power back, leaving Oakland with a modest edge.

Oakland acquired cornerback DeAngelo Hall from Atlanta for a 2008 second-round pick and a 2009 fifth-rounder, then signed him to a massive long-term contract. The experiment lasted only eight games before the Raiders released him. Atlanta converted the draft capital into pieces of later deals that produced Sam Baker, Harry Douglas, Kroy Biermann, Garrett Reynolds and Vance Walker, creating an enormous value gap.

Atlanta sent picks No. 137 and No. 230 to Oakland to move up two spots for John Cominsky at No. 135. Cominsky showed useful versatility but never became a major Falcons starter and later found a larger role after leaving Atlanta. Oakland selected Foster Moreau at No. 137, and his four productive Raiders seasons make the trade-down side more valuable.

Atlanta acquired Bryan Edwards and a 2023 seventh-round pick from Las Vegas for a 2023 fifth-rounder. Edwards did not solve the Falcons' receiving need and was released during the season, but the extra seventh eventually became safety DeMarcco Hellams, who supplied useful defensive value. The Raiders gained the better original pick but later moved it, leaving Atlanta with the most tangible contributor directly connected to the exchange.

Atlanta moved down 12 spots in the fourth round of the 2026 draft, sending No. 122 to Las Vegas for No. 134 and No. 208. The Falcons used those selections on Oklahoma linebacker Kendal Daniels and Washington defensive tackle Anterio Thompson. Atlanta turned one fourth-round choice into two defensive prospects while remaining in the same round.