Oakland converted its 1963 fourth- and fifth-round picks into…
Oakland converted its 1963 fourth- and fifth-round picks into real immediate help. Dalva Allen played 42 Raiders games across three seasons and Pro Football Reference credits him with 38 starts and 13 sacks; John White added seven games, 101 receiving yards and a touchdown. Houston's two selections, Lee Roy Caffey and Homer Jones, produced no Oilers regular-season games. The Raiders earn B+ to Houston's D.
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- player John White
- player Dalva Allen
Tennessee Titans Received
- pick 1963 AFL 4th round pick (25th overall, Lee Roy Caffey )
- pick 1963 AFL 5th round pick (33rd overall, Homer Jones )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On September 3, 1962, Oakland acquired defensive end Dalva Allen and tight end John White from Houston for the Raiders' fourth- and fifth-round choices in the 1963 AFL draft. Oakland's 1965 media guide assigns the fourth-round choice to White and the fifth-round choice to Allen, while Raider transaction history confirms the combined two-player, two-pick exchange. Houston subsequently held Oakland-derived selections at No. 25 and No. 33.
Oakland Raiders Return
Oakland received the only sustained team-specific production in the deal. Pro Football Reference credits Allen with 42 Raiders games over 1962-64, including 38 starts and 13 reconstructed sacks; his 1963 season also carries second-team All-Pro recognition there. White's Oakland stay was shorter, but he still played seven games in 1962 and caught six passes for 101 yards and one touchdown. Together, they gave the Raiders one multi-year defensive starter and a smaller offensive contribution.
Houston Oilers Return
Houston used the No. 25 selection on Lee Roy Caffey and No. 33 on Homer Jones. Caffey became an excellent NFL linebacker elsewhere, but his documented pro career began with Philadelphia in 1963 and contains no Oilers games. Jones had already signed with Houston, yet NFL and Giants accounts report that the Oilers released him after a knee injury in training camp. His later breakout career came with New York, not Houston. Neither selection produced regular-season Oilers value.
Value in Hindsight
This is a sharp example of why later fame cannot be credited to the team that did not receive it. Caffey and Jones became recognizable names, but Houston did not get their NFL production. Oakland actually received 42 games from Allen, plus seven from White, and Allen supplied three seasons of starting-caliber defensive work.
Final Verdict
Oakland moves from C to B+ and Houston falls from C to D. The verdict changes from Even Trade to Las Vegas Raiders Win. Allen's 42-game Raiders tenure and White's modest receiving output clearly outweigh two Oilers draft selections that generated zero Houston regular-season appearances.