Green Bay acquired wide receiver Ollie Smith from Oakland for…
Green Bay acquired wide receiver Ollie Smith from Oakland for a future twelfth-round selection. Smith gave the Packers two useful seasons, totaling 42 catches for 721 yards and a touchdown across 1976 and 1977. That was respectable value for such a late pick, but the selection became Rod Martin, whose long Raiders career transformed the hindsight comparison.
Green Bay Packers Received
- player Ollie Smith
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- pick 1977 twelfth round pick (#317-Rod Martin)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Oakland traded receiver Ollie Smith to Green Bay in August 1976 for a future twelfth-round selection. The pick landed at No. 317 in the 1977 draft, where the Raiders selected linebacker Rod Martin. A transaction involving one of the draft's final choices eventually produced one of the best late-round outcomes imaginable.
What Green Bay Received
Smith was not a throwaway acquisition. NFL records show 20 catches for 364 yards and one touchdown for Green Bay in 1976, followed by 22 catches for 357 yards in 1977. He started 11 games in his second Packers season and gave the offense legitimate receiving production for two years.
What Oakland Received
Martin became a Raiders fixture. The club credits him with 12 seasons, 165 games, 147 starts, 33.5 sacks and 14 interceptions, along with two Pro Bowl selections and additional postseason recognition. He also became part of championship teams and vastly outperformed the normal expectation for a twelfth-round choice.
Why the Late Pick Changes Everything
Green Bay's decision was reasonable because Smith produced more than most clubs could expect from such a distant selection. Hindsight, however, measures realized value. Oakland used the pick on a long-term defensive starter whose career spanned more than a decade. That extraordinary hit overwhelms two solid receiving seasons.
Historical Context
Martin's value was especially remarkable because Oakland risked almost nothing in draft terms. Hits that late are rare, which turns a seemingly minor veteran move into a historically lopsided exchange.
Final Verdict
Oakland receives an A+ and Green Bay receives a C+. The Packers received useful short-term production, but the Raiders turned the surrendered twelfth-rounder into Rod Martin, creating a massive long-term advantage.