The Jets moved up from No. 48 to No. 42 in the 1987 draft and…
The Jets moved up from No. 48 to No. 42 in the 1987 draft and selected linebacker Alex Gordon, sending the Raiders No. 48 and No. 102. Gordon became a legitimate multi-year starter for New York. The Raiders then used both acquired selections in subsequent trades that helped produce tackle Bruce Wilkerson and fullback Steve Smith, giving Los Angeles greater long-term value without making the Jets' move a failure.
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- pick 1987 second round pick (#48-Wally Kleine)
- pick 1987 fourth round pick (#102-Derrick Beasley)
New York Jets Received
- pick 1987 second round pick (#42-Alex Gordon)
Trade Analysis
Why the Jets Moved Up
New York climbed six spots in the second round to select linebacker Alex Gordon. The price was No. 48 plus the fourth-round No. 102 selection. Gordon was not a bust: he became a starter and gave the Jets several seasons of useful defensive work, so the move had a credible football rationale and produced immediate roster value.
What the Jets Received
Gordon played 96 NFL games overall and spent the opening portion of his career with New York. He started regularly for the Jets and contributed as a pass rusher. That outcome is important because it prevents hindsight from turning this into a one-sided failure. New York paid extra capital but did receive a real starting defender.
What the Raiders Built
Los Angeles treated the two incoming picks as trade currency. No. 48 was moved to Washington in a package that brought back No. 52, used on tackle Bruce Wilkerson. No. 102 later became part of a New England trade that brought No. 81, used on fullback Steve Smith. Wilkerson and Smith both developed into long-term Raiders contributors, extending the value of the original Jets payment.
How the Value Settled
The Raiders' advantage comes from asset management rather than a single direct draft hit. The two selections acquired from New York became ingredients in separate moves, and both chains produced players who stayed with the Raiders for years. Gordon gave the Jets enough production to make their grade respectable, but one solid starter did not match the combined downstream return.
Final Verdict
The Raiders win with a B+; the Jets receive a B-. New York got a useful linebacker, so the trade was defensible. Los Angeles, however, converted the two incoming assets into a broader and more durable return, which creates the separation in the final grade.