Oakland/Los Angeles/Las Vegas Raiders received Hall of Fame…
Oakland/Los Angeles/Las Vegas Raiders received Hall of Fame tackle Bob Brown, who played 34 games with 32 starts in Oakland, plus the two Rams-origin 1972 choices strongly traced to John Vella and Ray Jamieson; Vella added 84 Raiders games and 48 starts and started on the Super Bowl XI champion. The return earns a A-, versus B- for Los Angeles/Cleveland/St. Louis Rams, with a hindsight verdict of Oakland/Los Angeles/Las Vegas Raiders Win. Concrete team-specific production and downstream results drive the grade.
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- player Bob Brown (S.)
- pick draft pick (possibly 1972 #43-John Vella)
- pick draft pick (possibly 1972 #173-Ray Jamieson)
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Kent McCloughan
- player Harry Schuh
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Oakland acquired tackle Bob Brown and two future draft choices from the Rams on June 23, 1971, for tackle Harry Schuh and defensive back Kent McCloughan. Historical pick-trade records connect the Rams' 1972 second- and seventh-round choices to Oakland selections John Vella at No. 43 and Ray Jamieson at No. 173. Those pick identities are corroborated by records showing the choices moved from Los Angeles to Oakland.
Oakland Raiders Return
The Raiders received immediate high-end line play from Brown. The franchise's official history credits him with 34 games and 32 starts from 1971 through 1973, including a Pro Bowl selection in Oakland, before his Hall of Fame induction years later. Vella added another major return: the Raiders say he played 84 games with 48 starts across eight seasons and started for the Super Bowl XI champions. Jamieson never produced regular-season value after suffering a career-ending neck injury in an exhibition game.
Los Angeles Rams Return
Los Angeles still received a useful starter in Schuh. Pro Football Reference credits him with 42 Rams games and 28 starts from 1971-73, including every start at right tackle in both 1971 and 1972. McCloughan was the empty part of the package. Pro Football Archives records the trade to Los Angeles and a reserve/did-not-report designation in 1971, with no Rams playing record after his strong Oakland career.
Value in Hindsight
That makes the trade much better for Oakland than the existing C+/C+ tie suggests, but not worthless for Los Angeles. Schuh gave the Rams two full seasons as a starting tackle and a third year of reserve availability. Oakland, however, got Brown for three near-full starting seasons and Vella for eight years, with Vella ultimately starting on a championship line. Even with Jamieson's injury, the Raiders' two durable linemen overwhelm the Rams' one productive return.
Final Verdict
Oakland earns an A- and the win; Los Angeles rises slightly to B-. Schuh's 28 Rams starts deserve real credit, so this was not a Rams failure. The decisive difference is the combined longevity and quality of Brown and Vella: 118 Raiders games and 80 starts between them, plus a Pro Bowl season for Brown and a Super Bowl XI starting role for Vella.