New England moved up only two spots, surrendering No. 44 and…
New England moved up only two spots, surrendering No. 44 and a sixth-rounder to Oakland for No. 42, then selected Rob Gronkowski. Oakland landed defensive lineman Lamarr Houston, a four-year starter who produced 16.5 sacks for the Raiders, plus linebacker Travis Goethel. That is respectable value, but Gronkowski became one of the defining tight ends in NFL history and a cornerstone of three Patriots championship teams, making New England the overwhelming winner.
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- pick 2010 2nd round pick (44th overall, Lamarr Houston )
- pick 2010 6th round pick (190th overall, Travis Goethel)
New England Patriots Received
- pick 2010 2nd round pick (42nd overall, Rob Gronkowski )
Trade Analysis
The mechanics of this trade looked modest on draft night. New England sent Oakland the 44th overall pick and No. 190 to move up two slots to No. 42. The Patriots used the pick on Arizona tight end Rob Gronkowski, whose college career had been interrupted by a back injury. Oakland selected defensive lineman Lamarr Houston at No. 44 and linebacker Travis Goethel at No. 190.
Houston made the Raiders' side respectable. He started 15 games as a rookie, recorded five sacks, and remained a regular starter through 2013. Across four Oakland seasons he produced 16.5 sacks while playing multiple spots along the front. He later signed with Chicago and finished his career with 30.5 sacks. Goethel had a much smaller role, appearing in 16 games over two seasons with Oakland.
New England's return exists on a different historical scale. Gronkowski spent nine seasons with the Patriots, catching 521 passes for 7,861 yards and 79 touchdowns in the regular season. He earned five Pro Bowl selections, four first-team All-Pro honors, made the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team, and was part of three Super Bowl championship teams in New England. His combination of receiving dominance and blocking changed how defenses handled the Patriots' offense.
Oakland deserves credit for turning a tiny move down into a useful multi-year starter, which is why a B is more appropriate than a poor grade. But New England acquired a franchise legend for the cost of two draft slots and a sixth-round pick. That is an A+ result and one of the clearest draft-day wins of the era.