Oakland acquired defensive tackle Dave Pear for second- and…
Oakland acquired defensive tackle Dave Pear for second- and third-round picks. Pear started 19 games in two seasons with the Raiders and was part of the Super Bowl XV championship roster, so the club received meaningful veteran value. His stay was brief, though, and Tampa Bay turned the primary pick into a four-year starting guard who helped its first division champion.
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- player Dave Pear
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Received
- pick 1979 second round pick (#33-Greg Roberts (b))
- pick 1979 third round pick (#80-Rick Berns)
Trade Analysis
Tampa Bay faced a difficult decision because Dave Pear had just become the first Pro Bowl selection in franchise history. Rather than extend the relationship, the Buccaneers traded him to Oakland for second- and third-round choices in the 1979 draft. Those selections became guard Greg Roberts at No. 33 and running back Rick Berns at No. 80.
Roberts made the deal work for Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers installed him at right guard immediately, and he started every game for the 1979 team that won the franchise’s first division title and reached the NFC Championship Game. Tampa Bay’s own history credits Roberts with 45 appearances and 42 starts from 1979 through 1982. Berns added only limited offensive production, but Roberts alone supplied multiple years of starting line play from the trade return.
Oakland also received legitimate value. Pear played 23 games with 19 starts over two Raiders seasons and was part of the Super Bowl XV championship team. That matters: the Raiders were buying a proven defensive tackle for a contender, and Pear contributed during the exact window they were targeting. His short tenure, however, limits the long-term payoff compared with Roberts’ four-year starting run.
The result is much closer than a simple picks-versus-player comparison suggests. Tampa Bay earns a B+ because it converted a veteran into a reliable young starter plus an extra selection. Oakland earns a B because Pear helped a championship roster and started regularly. The Buccaneers win narrowly on duration and asset efficiency rather than because the Raiders failed to receive value.