The Raiders acquired veteran linebacker Jerry Robinson from…
The Raiders acquired veteran linebacker Jerry Robinson from Philadelphia on September 30, 1985, for a 1986 second-round pick that eventually reached the Eagles and became Alonzo Johnson at No. 48. Robinson then gave the Raiders seven seasons, 97 games and 70 starts, providing far more sustained defensive value than Philadelphia ultimately received from Johnson.
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- player Jerry Robinson
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- pick 1986 second round pick (#48-Alonzo Johnson)
Trade Analysis
The date and the outcome both need a clearer historical reading. NFL transaction records place Jerry Robinson's move from Philadelphia to the Raiders on September 30, 1985. Robinson was already an established linebacker, so Oakland was buying known veteran value rather than taking a developmental swing. The price was a 1986 second-round pick, and Philadelphia eventually ended up with the No. 48 choice used on linebacker Alonzo Johnson.
Robinson justified that price. The Raiders' own historical roster lists him with the club from 1985 through 1991, spanning 97 games and 70 starts. He added 11 sacks, six interceptions and two interception-return touchdowns. That is a substantial block of dependable linebacker play from a player acquired in his seventh professional season.
Philadelphia's return did not age nearly as well. Johnson appeared in 15 games as a rookie and produced three interceptions, but his Eagles tenure ended after only three more games in 1987. The pick therefore delivered a brief burst rather than a long-term starter. A second-rounder still carried meaningful value when the trade was made, which keeps the Eagles from receiving the lowest possible grade, but the realized return was limited.
The Raiders earn the win because they converted one future second-round choice into seven seasons of useful veteran production. Philadelphia made a reasonable age-and-value bet by moving Robinson for draft capital, yet the player selected from that value did not last. With the transaction date corrected to September 30 and the player name cleaned up, the hindsight verdict belongs clearly to the Raiders.