Detroit acquired offensive lineman Harvey Salem from Houston…
Detroit acquired offensive lineman Harvey Salem from Houston on September 23, 1986 for a 1987 second-round choice, No. 36 overall. Salem became an immediate starter and remained a regular part of the Lions line through 1990, appearing in 65 games with 62 starts during that span. Detroit turned one future pick into five seasons of useful starting-level line play.
Detroit Lions Received
- player Harvey Salem
Tennessee Titans Received
- pick 1987 second-round pick (No. 36 overall)
Trade Analysis
Why Detroit Wanted Harvey Salem
Detroit was trying to stabilize an offensive line during the 1986 season, and Harvey Salem offered something more valuable than a short-term emergency patch. The Oilers sent him to the Lions on September 23 for a 1987 second-round choice. Salem stepped directly into the lineup and gave Detroit a veteran lineman who could handle a substantial snap load immediately rather than waiting for a future selection to develop.
What Salem Delivered
Salem remained with Detroit through 1990. Across those five seasons he appeared in 65 regular-season games and started 62 of them, including full starting workloads in 1986, 1987 and 1988. That is strong practical value for a club that surrendered one future second-rounder. The Lions did not merely rent a player for the remainder of 1986; they acquired a dependable multi-year starter at a premium position group.
What Houston Received
Houston received the 1987 second-round choice, No. 36 overall. That was legitimate draft capital, so the Oilers were not empty-handed. The choice later moved through additional draft activity, however, which makes it misleading to attach a later player directly to this one-for-one trade. The clean comparison is Salem's Detroit tenure against the value of the second-round asset Houston controlled.
How the Value Settled
A second-round pick carries upside, but Salem gave Detroit years of known production and starting continuity. The Lions converted uncertainty into a player who stayed in the lineup for most of five seasons. Houston's return was respectable, yet it did not produce a clearer direct payoff than Salem's established role in Detroit.
Final Verdict
Detroit earns a B+ and Houston/Tennessee a C+. The Oilers obtained a useful future choice, but the Lions received the most visible and durable football value in the transaction. Five seasons and 62 starts make this a Detroit Lions Win.