Oakland reacquired the 57th pick from New England and used it…
Oakland reacquired the 57th pick from New England and used it on pass rusher Lance Johnstone, who became a productive Raider and eventually recorded 72 career sacks. The Patriots received picks 76, 124 and 149. New England later turned No. 76 into a package that included the selection used on Tedy Bruschi, while the other picks added depth. Johnstone was a real hit, but New England extracted the broader and more consequential return.
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- pick 1996 2nd round pick (57th overall, Lance Johnstone )
New England Patriots Received
- pick 1996 3rd round pick (76th overall subsequently traded, Ryan Stewart )
- pick 1996 4th round pick (124th overall, Kantroy Barber )
- pick 1996 5th round pick (149th overall, Christian Peter)
Trade Analysis
This is one of the better examples of a trade in which the losing side still did well. Oakland used the 57th selection on Lance Johnstone, and he justified the investment. Johnstone played 87 games for the Raiders, started 57, and recorded 11 sacks in 1998 and 10 in 1999. He ultimately finished a 10-year career with 72 sacks. A second-round pick becoming a productive pass rusher for several seasons is a successful outcome, which is why Oakland still earns a strong grade.
New England’s return was less direct but even more valuable. The Patriots received the 76th, 124th and 149th selections. No. 124 became Kantroy Barber and No. 149 became Christian Peter. The real historical leverage came from No. 76. New England subsequently sent that pick to Detroit and received selections 86, 119 and 195. The Patriots used No. 86 on linebacker Tedy Bruschi, who became a franchise fixture, a three-time Super Bowl champion and one of the defining defensive players of the Bill Belichick era. The additional selections produced Chris Sullivan and Marrio Grier.
It would overstate the case to say Oakland simply handed New England Bruschi; several transactions separated the original pick from that outcome. Still, tracing exact draft-pick movement matters when judging what each side did with the assets it actually received. New England turned one second-rounder into three picks, then multiplied the highest of those again. Oakland got a good pass rusher, but the Patriots generated more total roster value and one enduring franchise player. Because Johnstone’s Oakland tenure was legitimately productive, the margin is narrower than many famous draft trades, yet the Patriots still finish ahead.