Philadelphia acquired veteran defensive tackle Art Thoms from…
Philadelphia acquired veteran defensive tackle Art Thoms from Oakland on September 1, 1977 for the Eagles' 1978 seventh-round and 1979 ninth-round selections. Thoms appeared in 12 games with one start for Philadelphia, then left after the season.
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- pick 1978 seventh-round pick (#176-Arthur Whittington)
- pick 1979 ninth-round pick (#238-Jim Rourke)
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- player Art Thoms
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
ProSportsTransactions records Philadelphia acquiring Art Thoms from Oakland on September 1, 1977 for two future choices. Philadelphia's own all-time draft ledger resolves the compensation as the Eagles' 1978 seventh-round pick and 1979 ninth-round pick. The 1978 choice became No. 176 Arthur Whittington, and the 1979 choice became No. 238 Jim Rourke.
Philadelphia Return
Thoms supplied one season of veteran defensive-line depth. NFL records show 12 Eagles games and one start in 1977. That is legitimate roster value, but it was brief; his Philadelphia tenure ended after the season.
Oakland Return
Whittington became the important asset. The Raiders' own historical roster credits him with 56 games and 20 starts from 1978 through 1981, 1,577 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns, 764 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns, plus 1,474 kickoff-return yards and one return touchdown. He was a substantial multi-year contributor and part of Oakland's 1980 championship season.
The Second Pick
Oakland used No. 238 in 1979 on offensive lineman Jim Rourke. Rourke built an eight-year NFL career, but his regular-season games came for Kansas City, New Orleans and Cincinnati rather than Oakland. He adds no realized Raiders value to the trade grade.
Hindsight Comparison
Philadelphia received 12 games and one start from Thoms. Oakland turned the seventh-round component into four seasons of productive rushing, receiving and return work from Whittington. The gap is clear even without assigning any value to Rourke.
Final Verdict
Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders Win. A B+ reflects strong multi-year production from a late-round asset, while Philadelphia receives a C for one useful but short season from Thoms.