Oakland acquired cornerback DeAngelo Hall from Atlanta for a…
Oakland acquired cornerback DeAngelo Hall from Atlanta for a 2008 second-round pick and a 2009 fifth-rounder, then signed him to a massive long-term contract. The experiment lasted only eight games before the Raiders released him. Atlanta converted the draft capital into pieces of later deals that produced Sam Baker, Harry Douglas, Kroy Biermann, Garrett Reynolds and Vance Walker, creating an enormous value gap.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- pick 2008 2nd round pick (34th overall; packaged with picks 48 and 103 to Washington for picks 21, 84 and 154, used on Sam Baker, Harry Douglas and Kroy Biermann; Washington later selected Devin Thomas at 34)
- pick 2009 5th round pick (143rd overall; traded to Dallas for picks 156 and 210, used on Garrett Reynolds and Vance Walker; Dallas later selected DeAngelo Smith at 143)
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- player DeAngelo Hall
Trade Analysis
The Raiders made a star-driven move in March 2008, sending Atlanta a second-round pick that year and a fifth-round pick in 2009 for cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Oakland then signed Hall to a lucrative long-term contract, signaling that he was expected to become a centerpiece of the secondary rather than a short-term rental. The plan unraveled almost immediately.
Hall started eight games for Oakland and intercepted three passes, but the fit deteriorated quickly. The Raiders released him in November, less than one season after surrendering two draft choices and committing major money. Hall subsequently signed with Washington and continued a productive NFL career, which makes the failure even more painful for Oakland: the player still had value, but the Raiders received almost none of it after paying to acquire him.
Atlanta turned the compensation into useful draft leverage. Pick 34 became part of the package sent to Washington in the move that produced Sam Baker, Harry Douglas and Kroy Biermann. The 2009 fifth-rounder was later traded to Dallas for additional selections used on Garrett Reynolds and Vance Walker. Those downstream moves require proper context because Atlanta added and exchanged other picks as well, but the original Hall return clearly helped the Falcons build depth and acquire multiple long-term contributors.
This is one of the clearest hindsight verdicts in the group. Oakland paid premium draft capital and contract money for eight games, then surrendered the asset for nothing. Atlanta moved a veteran at peak market value and converted the compensation into flexible draft resources during a successful roster reset. The Falcons earn an A+ for timing and value extraction. The Raiders receive an F because the acquisition failed almost immediately and left no compensating return. Atlanta wins overwhelmingly.