Cleveland Browns–Las Vegas Raiders Trade History

Oakland sent receiver Gloster Richardson to Cleveland on September 11, 1972 for the Browns' 1974 fourth-round selection, later used on Morris Bradshaw. Richardson contributed as a reserve over three Browns seasons, but Bradshaw became a longer-tenured Raiders player and special-teams contributor. Oakland's draft conversion produced the stronger long-term return, though Cleveland did receive useful veteran production.

Cleveland received the 1975 sixth-round pick used on Henry Hynoski at No. 154. Hynoski played all 14 games for the Browns in 1975 and contributed as a runner and returner, giving Cleveland a full season of usable value. That exceeded the limited production Oakland received from veteran receiver Frank Pitts.

Cleveland Browns received draft pick (undisclosed) from Las Vegas Raiders, while Las Vegas Raiders received James Thaxton/Jim Thaxton (Ivory) in the 1975-05-14 deal. In hindsight, Cleveland Browns's return did not separate far enough from Las Vegas Raiders to justify a higher grade. The final grades are C for Cleveland Browns and C for Las Vegas Raiders, producing a verdict of Even Trade. The rating reflects the documented package, the certainty of the consideration, and the football value that can actually be assigned in hindsight.

Cleveland sent the No. 34 pick to Oakland and received linebacker Gerald Irons plus a ninth-round selection used on Craig Nagel. Irons became a regular Browns linebacker and appeared in 58 games over four seasons. Nagel added little, but Irons' sustained Cleveland role gave the Browns more direct team-specific value than Oakland received from the higher draft choice.

Cleveland Browns received George Buehler in the deal with Las Vegas Raiders. George Buehler played 22 games for Cleveland across 1978 and 1979 and made eight starts, providing immediate veteran guard depth and some starting work. That result supports a B- for Cleveland Browns. The Cleveland Browns Win verdict weighs the documented service and usable draft value each side actually realized from the exchange.

Cleveland Browns received 1979 seventh round pick (#183-Cody Risien); 1979 ninth round pick (#241-Curtis Weathers) in the 1979-05-04 exchange with Las Vegas Raiders. Cody Risien became a 146-game tackle and two-time Pro Bowler, and Curtis Weathers added a 94-game NFL career, creating outstanding late-round value. The direct return and the football value it produced drive the hindsight judgment. Against the assets Cleveland Browns surrendered, the result supports Cleveland Browns Win and a A grade for Cleveland Browns.

Oakland acquired Lyle Alzado and Greg Pruitt from Cleveland in two same-day April 1982 trades, surrendering only an eighth-round pick in 1982 and an eleventh-round pick in 1983. Alzado became a four-year Raiders starter and key defender on the 1983 championship team, while Pruitt supplied veteran depth. The combined return makes Oakland the clear winner.

On 1982-05-21, Cleveland Browns received past considerations (undisclosed), while Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders received Don Goode. The hindsight verdict is Even Trade, with Cleveland Browns 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 treating conditional terms and later draft outcomes as context rather than as assets exchanged directly on trade day.

Cleveland acquired the Raiders' 1984 tenth-round selection for guard Henry Sheppard and used pick No. 280 on Earnest Byner. Byner became a major Browns contributor, topped 1,000 rushing yards in 1985 and built a 14-year NFL career with more than 8,000 rushing yards. Turning a depth player into that late-round value makes this an exceptional Cleveland win.

Cleveland Browns received an undisclosed conditional draft pick that was not exercised from the Los Angeles Raiders in the 1991 trade. The Raiders received Newt Harrell. Harrell did not produce a meaningful Raiders regular-season contribution, while Cleveland realized no draft selection from the condition. Those limited outcomes support C grades for both teams and an Even Trade verdict.

Cleveland Browns received David Jones from Las Vegas Raiders, while Las Vegas Raiders received conditional draft pick (selection not identified) in the 1993-08-24 deal. In hindsight, Cleveland Browns's return did not separate far enough from Las Vegas Raiders to justify a higher grade. The final grades are C for Cleveland Browns and C for Las Vegas Raiders, producing a verdict of Even Trade. The rating reflects the documented package, the certainty of the consideration, and the football value that can actually be assigned in hindsight.

Cleveland moved up to the 122nd pick in 2002 and selected tight end Darnell Sanders, sending the Raiders picks Nos. 147 and 189. The Raiders chose Kenyon Coleman and Keyon Nash. Coleman later built a long NFL career, but almost all of that value came after leaving Oakland; Sanders was a modest contributor for Cleveland. Because neither club captured meaningful lasting value from its own return, the trade grades evenly.

Oakland sent Cleveland a third-round pick for linebacker Kamerion Wimbley and immediately received two productive starting seasons. Wimbley recorded nine sacks in 2010 and seven more in 2011 before leaving after a contract dispute. Cleveland used the 85th pick on quarterback Colt McCoy, who started 21 games for the Browns and remained in the NFL for years. Oakland still gained the stronger peak value, but Cleveland's return deserves credit.

Cleveland moved down from No. 100 to No. 114 in the 2016 draft and added No. 154 from Oakland. The Browns used those picks on wide receivers Ricardo Louis and Jordan Payton. Louis gave Cleveland 32 games, 12 starts, 45 receptions and 562 yards over two seasons; Payton appeared in four games. That modest two-player return still exceeded the regular-season value Oakland realized from Connor Cook.

Cleveland received the 2026 fifth-round pick that became No. 141 for Kenny Pickett. The Browns later moved No. 141 again rather than selecting Kamari Ramsey, so Cleveland's return must be measured through that downstream transaction rather than Ramsey's career. Las Vegas acquired Pickett in August 2025, and both sides remain too recent for a stronger conclusion. The current result is C/C Even Trade.