Oakland sent veteran defensive lineman Ike Lassiter to New…
Oakland sent veteran defensive lineman Ike Lassiter to New England for third- and seventh-round selections in the 1971 draft. The Raiders retained flexibility with the picks and later moved the third-round asset in another transaction, but the direct downstream return did not clearly exceed Lassiter's service. New England received two seasons of immediate veteran line play from the player it acquired.
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- pick 1971 third round pick (#53) [later traded with Alvin Wyatt to Buffalo Bills for Bill Enyart and 1971 tenth round pick (#238- William West )]
- pick 1971 seventh round pick (#157- Don Martin (Joe))
New England Patriots Received
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Oakland sent veteran defensive lineman Ike Lassiter to New England for a 1971 third-round choice and a seventh-round choice. The Raiders later moved the third-round asset in another deal. The original transaction matters because later pick movement can blur what each club actually received. This version keeps the identified assets attached to the correct side.
What Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders Received
Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders came away with 1971 third round pick (#53) [later traded with Alvin Wyatt to Buffalo Bills for Bill Enyart and 1971 tenth round pick (#238-William West)], 1971 seventh round pick (#157-Don Martin (Joe)). Lassiter gave New England immediate veteran line play over two seasons. Oakland retained draft flexibility, but neither the seventh-round selection nor the later handling of the third-round pick produced a direct Raiders return that clearly surpassed Lassiter's service. The grade reflects both the quality of that return and how directly it benefited the franchise.
What New England Patriots Received
New England Patriots received Isaac Lassiter / Ike Lassiter. The comparison is not based only on the apparent value of the package on trade day. It weighs what those assets became, how long the player contribution lasted, whether a draft choice produced usable service, and whether either side quickly moved on without meaningful return.
How the Value Aged
Lassiter gave New England immediate veteran line play over two seasons. Oakland retained draft flexibility, but neither the seventh-round selection nor the later handling of the third-round pick produced a direct Raiders return that clearly surpassed Lassiter's service. That is the key separator in the hindsight grade. The transaction can still have made sense for both clubs at the time, especially when veterans, roster needs and future choices were valued differently than they are today. The verdict instead measures the football value each franchise ultimately captured from the assets received in this specific exchange.
Final Verdict
The best hindsight result is New England Patriots Win. Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders earns a C+ and New England Patriots earns a B. Flips narrowly to New England because Lassiter supplied direct playing value while Oakland’s picks produced limited direct return. The grade spread stays proportional to the actual impact: a clear but modest advantage remains modest, while a long-term starter or star compared with little return creates a wider separation.