New England sent the No. 81 pick and its tenth-round…
New England sent the No. 81 pick and its tenth-round selection, No. 275, to the Raiders for Nos. 98 and 102 in the 1987 draft. Los Angeles used No. 81 on fullback Steve Smith and No. 275 on quarterback John Paye. Smith became a long-term Raiders starter. New England drafted Rich Gannon and Derrick Beasley, but Gannon was traded to Minnesota before playing for the Patriots.
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- pick 1987 third round pick (#81-Steve Smith (Anthony))
- pick 1987 tenth round pick (#275-John Paye)
New England Patriots Received
- pick 1987 fourth round pick (#98-Rich Gannon)
- pick 1987 fourth round pick (#102-Derrick Beasley)
Trade Analysis
Why the Raiders Moved Up
Los Angeles packaged two fourth-round picks, Nos. 98 and 102, to move to No. 81 while also receiving New England's tenth-round selection at No. 275. The Patriots' own draft history records that exact package. The Raiders wanted Steve Smith and were willing to surrender two choices to reach him.
What the Raiders Received
Smith became the foundation of the return. He played 128 NFL games, started 91 and spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Raiders. As a blocking and receiving fullback, he supplied far more staying power than a typical third-round pick. The tenth-round choice became John Paye, who provided additional quarterback depth but was not the main source of value.
What New England Received
The Patriots used No. 98 on Rich Gannon and No. 102 on Derrick Beasley. Gannon eventually became an accomplished NFL quarterback, but that later greatness cannot simply be credited to New England because the Patriots traded his rights to Minnesota before he played for them. Beasley did not become a comparable long-term contributor. New England did preserve value by moving Gannon for future draft compensation, but the immediate football return was limited.
How the Value Settled
This is a useful reminder to grade what a team actually captured, not the best career a drafted player later had elsewhere. The Raiders received years of direct production from Smith. New England identified Gannon correctly but never benefited from his eventual prime and received little from Beasley.
Final Verdict
The Raiders win with a B+ while New England gets a C+. Smith's long tenure makes Los Angeles the stronger side, and Paye added depth. The Patriots' ability to move Gannon later keeps the grade from falling further, but the 1987 exchange itself delivered more sustained value to the Raiders.