The 1983 Mike Haynes Deal: The Raiders Paid Premium Picks and Added a Hall of Fame Corner for a Title Run
The Raiders acquired Mike Haynes during the 1983 season, while New England received first- and second-round compensation. Haynes helped win Super Bowl XVIII immediately.
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- player Mike Haynes
- pick 1985 seventh round pick (possibly #192-Nick Haden)
New England Patriots Received
- pick 1984 first round pick (#28-Brian Blados)
- pick 1985 second round pick (#52-Jim Bowman (Edwin))
Trade Summary
The Raiders acquired Mike Haynes during the 1983 season and immediately added an elite cornerback to a championship roster. Haynes played the final five regular-season games, started through the postseason, intercepted a pass in Super Bowl XVIII, and remained a high-level Raider for years. The compensation was significant, but Los Angeles received a Hall of Fame player at a premium position and a direct title contribution, which is exactly the outcome a contender hopes to buy.
Trade Analysis
What the Transaction Actually Did
The Mike Haynes move was shaped by a contract dispute rather than a normal in-season shopping process. Haynes had played out his option in New England, and after an earlier attempted deal was challenged, the final November 1983 settlement sent his rights to the Los Angeles Raiders. New England received the Raiders' 1984 first-round selection and 1985 second-round selection, while a future Patriots seventh-round pick also went to Los Angeles.
Why the Raiders Paid Premium Capital
Haynes was already an elite cornerback, not a projection. The Raiders were adding a proven All-Pro-caliber defender to a roster built to win immediately. He joined for the final five regular-season games, then started throughout the postseason. In Super Bowl XVIII, Haynes intercepted a pass as Los Angeles beat Washington for the championship.
That immediate title contribution is the strongest argument for the Raiders. They paid future draft value and received exactly the kind of present-tense difference maker a contender hopes to acquire.
What New England Actually Got
The Patriots' return was more meaningful than simply saying the first-round pick became Brian Blados. New England received the Raiders' No. 28 selection in the 1984 draft and later included that asset in the package used to move to No. 1 overall, where the Patriots selected Irving Fryar. The 1985 second-rounder became Jim Bowman.
That draft capital had real strategic value, even if no single incoming asset matched Haynes directly.
Why the Raiders Still Lead
Haynes remained with the Raiders through 1989, earned additional Pro Bowl recognition, and eventually entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This was not a short rental whose value rested on one playoff run.
Final Verdict
The Raiders win. New England received serious compensation and deserves more credit than the raw pick outcomes suggest, but Los Angeles acquired a Hall of Fame cornerback, won a Super Bowl immediately, and retained elite secondary play for years.