Oakland acquired tackle Lincoln Kennedy from Atlanta in May…
Oakland acquired tackle Lincoln Kennedy from Atlanta in May 1996 for a 1997 fifth-round pick. Kennedy became a cornerstone of the Raiders’ offensive line, starting 119 games for the franchise, earning three Pro Bowl selections and first-team All-Pro honors in 2002, and helping Oakland reach Super Bowl XXXVII. Atlanta received only a late-round asset that never approached that value. Getting an elite long-term starter for a fifth-round pick makes this an overwhelming Raiders win.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- pick 1997 5th round pick (140th overall subsequently traded, Keith Thibodeaux)
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- player Lincoln Kennedy
Trade Analysis
Lincoln Kennedy is exactly the kind of veteran acquisition that makes a late-round trade look almost unfair in hindsight. Atlanta had drafted Kennedy ninth overall in 1993, but his first three NFL seasons did not establish him as the cornerstone tackle the Falcons expected. In May 1996, Atlanta moved him to Oakland for a 1997 fifth-round pick, effectively selling low on a talented former top-ten selection.
The Raiders unlocked the value Atlanta had been waiting for. Kennedy became a fixture at right tackle and started 119 games during his Oakland tenure. He earned Pro Bowl selections in 2000, 2001 and 2002 and was named first-team All-Pro in 2002. That final season ended with Oakland reaching Super Bowl XXXVII. Kennedy’s combination of power, durability and pass protection made him one of the most important pieces of the veteran offensive line that supported Rich Gannon and the Raiders’ early-2000s resurgence.
Atlanta’s compensation never came close to matching that production. A fifth-round pick has some value, but it is a modest return for a player who would soon become a multi-year starter and eventually one of the best tackles in football. The Falcons also surrendered the developmental upside they had originally paid a top-ten pick to acquire.
There is little need to complicate the verdict. Oakland paid a low acquisition cost, received seven seasons of high-level starting play, and got Kennedy’s peak years. Atlanta received a late selection and no comparable long-term benefit. Trades involving distressed former first-rounders can sometimes give both teams a useful reset; this one overwhelmingly rewarded the buyer. The Raiders earn an A+ because the combination of price, longevity and elite performance is about as favorable as a veteran trade can become.