Atlanta acquired Chris Chandler from the Oilers in 1997 for…
Atlanta acquired Chris Chandler from the Oilers in 1997 for picks 98 and 165. Chandler became a Pro Bowl quarterback and led the 1998 Falcons to the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance. The Oilers used No. 98 on Derrick Mason, who later produced four straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons for the franchise, while No. 165 helped facilitate another draft move. Both teams received exceptional value from the exchange.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- player Chris Chandler
Tennessee Titans Received
- pick 1997 4th round pick (98th overall, Derrick Mason)
- pick 1997 6th round pick (165th overall subsequently traded, Nick Savoie)
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Atlanta needed a veteran quarterback and acquired Chris Chandler from the Houston Oilers in February 1997. The Oilers received the 98th and 165th selections in that year's draft. The price was modest enough for Atlanta to pursue an immediate starter, while the Oilers gained two opportunities to add younger talent as the franchise transitioned toward its Tennessee era.
What Atlanta Received
Chandler's peak in Atlanta made the deal matter. In 1998 he threw for 3,154 yards and 25 touchdowns, earned a Pro Bowl selection and helped the Falcons win the NFC championship. Atlanta reached the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history. A fourth- and sixth-round price for a quarterback who delivered that kind of season is excellent realized value, even though Chandler's tenure did not become a decade-long solution.
What the Oilers and Titans Received
The 98th pick became Derrick Mason. He developed into a major receiving weapon for the franchise and later posted four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Tennessee did not simply acquire generic mid-round capital; it converted the primary pick into a player with sustained, high-level production. The 165th selection was subsequently included with another pick in a move up the draft board, adding further transactional value to the return.
Why the Verdict Lands Here
Either side can point to an unusually strong outcome. Atlanta obtained the quarterback who helped produce a historic Super Bowl season. Tennessee obtained a long-term receiver who became one of the franchise's most productive pass catchers. The different forms of value make a clear loser difficult to identify.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Atlanta and Tennessee each receive an A-. Chandler's NFC championship season and Mason's long-term receiving production both dramatically exceeded what would normally be expected from the assets each club surrendered.