New England sent Tennessee picks No. 154 and No. 225 in 2003…
New England sent Tennessee picks No. 154 and No. 225 in 2003 for selections No. 164, No. 201 and No. 243. The Patriots used the first acquired pick on center Dan Koppen, who started 120 regular-season games for New England and won two Super Bowls. Tennessee's return produced Donnie Nickey and Todd Williams, giving the Patriots a major advantage from a seemingly modest late-round shuffle.
New England Patriots Received
- pick 2003 5th round pick (164th overall, Dan Koppen), 2003 6th round pick (201st overall, Kliff Kingsbury) and 2003 7th round pick (243rd overall, Ethan Kelley)
Tennessee Titans Received
- pick 2003 5th round pick (154th overall, Donnie Nickey)
- pick 2003 7th round pick (225th overall, Todd Williams)
Trade Analysis
Late-round draft trades are often dismissed as minor bookkeeping, but this one produced a foundational starter for New England. The Patriots sent Tennessee the 154th and 225th selections in the 2003 draft and received Nos. 164, 201 and 243. Tennessee used its higher fifth-round pick on safety Donnie Nickey and the seventh-rounder on tackle Todd Williams. New England selected center Dan Koppen at No. 164, quarterback Kliff Kingsbury at No. 201 and defensive lineman Ethan Kelley at No. 243.
Koppen changed the evaluation by himself. He started 15 games as a rookie on the 2003 championship team, became the full-time center immediately and ultimately started 120 regular-season games for New England. He earned a Pro Bowl selection, played in multiple Super Bowls and won two rings with the Patriots. For a fifth-round selection acquired by moving down ten spots, that was exceptional value.
Tennessee did receive something useful. Nickey spent eight seasons with the Titans and became a core special-teams player, appearing in 108 games even though he rarely started on defense. That longevity keeps the Titans from receiving a failing grade. Williams played only a small NFL role, while New England received little from Kingsbury and Kelley. The trade therefore was not three hits against two misses; it was one outstanding hit against one useful specialist and several marginal pieces.
The Patriots deserve the clear win because a decade-long starting center carries far more roster value than special-teams longevity. New England also found Koppen without paying extra premium capital, preserving the broader flexibility that defined many of its early-2000s drafts. Tennessee's return was respectable for late-round picks, but Koppen's 120 Patriots starts and championship role create too much separation. A strong New England grade reflects the quality and duration of the centerpiece, while Tennessee receives credit for Nickey's staying power.