New England Patriots–Tennessee Titans Trade History

Boston/New England Patriots received Houston Antwine from Houston Oilers, giving up 1962 fourth round pick (#30-Gary Cutsinger). Boston received Houston Antwine, an immediate defensive-line piece. The preserved grading for this historical exchange remains conservative at C, reflecting the narrow scope of this transaction record rather than assigning value from unrelated later moves. That return supports a C grade for Boston/New England Patriots. The final verdict is Tennessee Titans Win.

Boston acquired veteran lineman Bob Schmidt from the Houston Oilers for the 1965 AFL second-round choice that became No. 15 Ralph Neely. Schmidt played all 14 games for the Patriots in 1964 and started four. Neely became an outstanding Dallas tackle, but never played a regular-season game for Houston. The Patriots therefore received the direct on-field return from this exchange and earn a narrow historical win.

Boston/New England Patriots received Don Trull from Houston Oilers, giving up 1968 ninth round pick (#224-Bob Robertson). New England acquired Don Trull as an immediate quarterback option. The move added depth, but the available record does not show enough lasting impact to push the Patriots above a C on this transaction. That return supports a C grade for Boston/New England Patriots. The final verdict is Tennessee Titans Win.

Boston acquired Sid Blanks, Larry Carwell, Ron Caveness, and Charlie Frazier from Houston for Leroy Mitchell and a 1970 second-round pick. The four-player package supplied immediate roster depth, and Patriots records explicitly document the exchange. None of the incoming players became a long-term franchise cornerstone, however, while giving up a second-round selection reduced the value of the quantity Boston received. Houston therefore keeps the slight edge.

New England traded linebacker Steve Kiner to the Houston Oilers on January 30, 1974 for Houston's ninth-round pick, No. 209. The Patriots used the selection on Ed McCartney, who never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. Kiner became a five-year Houston starter, playing 72 games with 71 starts from 1974 through 1978 and contributing to the Oilers' rise into an AFC contender.

New England Patriots received 1976 seventh round pick (#202-Perry Brooks) from Tennessee Titans. New England used the seventh-round choice on Perry Brooks, but Brooks did not supply the Patriots meaningful regular-season value. That realized return supports a D grade for New England Patriots. The final verdict is Even Trade, based on the regular-season service and draft value each club actually received after the exchange.

New England acquired Willie Germany and received 1976 defensive-back depth. Germany appeared in 10 games for the Patriots that season, giving the club a real but limited short-term return. He did not become a long-term New England starter, so the value remained well below what Houston ultimately created from the draft pick.

New England traded All-Pro tackle Leon Gray to Houston for a 1980 first-round pick, a sixth-round pick and cash. The first-rounder became running back Vagas Ferguson, who started 21 games for the Patriots and rushed for 818 yards as a rookie. The return was usable, but it did not replace the elite line play New England surrendered.

New England acquired center Jim Romano from Houston in August 1987 for a conditional 1988 draft choice. The Patriots' 1988 media guide establishes that Romano never played a game for New England, so no draft choice was transferred. Romano went to injured reserve and was waived off IR in December. Neither side received regular-season football value, supporting C/C and Even Trade.

The Houston Oilers sent the 17th pick in 1991 to New England for Nos. 28 and 101, which became Mike Dumas and David Rocker. New England then packaged No. 17 with another selection to move to No. 14 and draft Leonard Russell. Russell won Offensive Rookie of the Year, giving the Patriots the strongest result from the exchange.

New England moved from No. 52 to No. 46 in the 1999 draft and selected Kevin Faulk, sending Tennessee picks 52 and 117. Faulk spent 13 seasons with the Patriots, gained more than 7,000 yards from scrimmage and won three Super Bowls. Tennessee used No. 52 on John Thornton, who also built a long and productive NFL career.

New England sent Tennessee picks No. 154 and No. 225 in 2003 for selections No. 164, No. 201 and No. 243. The Patriots used the first acquired pick on center Dan Koppen, who started 120 regular-season games for New England and won two Super Bowls. Tennessee's return produced Donnie Nickey and Todd Williams, giving the Patriots a major advantage from a seemingly modest late-round shuffle.

Tennessee sent its 2010 second-round pick to New England for No. 89 in 2009 and selected tight end Jared Cook. Cook developed into a productive four-year Titans target with 1,717 receiving yards. New England later moved the future No. 47 pick to Arizona, beginning a chain that produced Brandon Spikes, Zoltan Mesko and another future second-rounder.

Tennessee moved up to No. 72 in the 2017 draft and also received pick No. 200, sending New England picks No. 83 and No. 124. The Titans selected receiver Taywan Taylor at No. 72, and he produced 53 catches for 697 yards and two touchdowns over his Tennessee tenure. New England chose Derek Rivers at No. 83 and later used No. 124 in another trade, but received little direct on-field value.

New England Patriots received 2025 7th round pick (217th overall subsequently traded, Jay Toia) from Tennessee Titans. New England received a 2025 seventh-round choice and later moved that selection in a separate package. The Patriots did not realize a comparable direct football return from this transaction itself. That outcome supports a C grade for New England Patriots. The final verdict is Tennessee Titans Win, based on the football value the club actually realized from the assets it controlled after the exchange.