The Raiders acquired Russell Carter for a future sixth-round…
The Raiders acquired Russell Carter for a future sixth-round pick, hoping the former first-round defensive back could stabilize their secondary. Carter played only two more NFL seasons and did not become a long-term Raiders piece. The sixth-round selection Los Angeles surrendered became Marvin Washington, a durable Jets starter for eight seasons, making the opportunity cost much larger than the original price suggested.
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- player Russell Carter
New York Jets Received
- pick 1989 sixth round pick (#151-Marvin Washington)
Trade Analysis
When the Raiders acquired Russell Carter in May 1988, the price looked modest. Los Angeles sent the Jets a sixth-round selection in the following year's draft for a veteran defensive back who had once been a first-round pick. The transaction gave the Raiders an immediate player without sacrificing premium capital, a reasonable gamble for a team seeking secondary help.
Carter did not revive his career in a meaningful way. He played only through the 1989 season and never became the long-term answer Los Angeles might have hoped to find. A future sixth-round pick would normally be an acceptable cost for that kind of veteran swing, but New York turned this particular selection into something far more valuable.
The Jets used the pick, No. 151 overall in 1989, on defensive lineman Marvin Washington. Washington became a durable part of New York's front, appearing in 124 games for the Jets and starting 90. He recorded 35.5 sacks during his Jets tenure and remained with the franchise through 1996. Getting that level of longevity and starting production from a sixth-round asset is a major success regardless of what the original trade looked like on the day it was made.
The gap is therefore driven by what New York did with a low-cost return. The Raiders did not pay an unreasonable price, so their grade stays in the middle rather than falling into failing territory. But Carter's short remaining career cannot compete with eight seasons of useful line play from Washington. The Jets successfully sold a veteran near the end of his career and transformed the return into a long-term starter, producing a clear win.