Oakland acquired Richard Seymour from New England for its…
Oakland acquired Richard Seymour from New England for its 2011 first-round pick. Seymour gave the Raiders four productive seasons, made two Pro Bowls in Oakland and supplied veteran credibility to an improving defensive front. New England waited two years and used the 17th overall pick on Nate Solder, a seven-year Patriots starter who helped win two Super Bowls, giving the Patriots the stronger long-term value without making Oakland's gamble a failure.
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- player Richard Seymour
New England Patriots Received
- pick 2011 1st round pick (17th overall, Nate Solder)
Trade Analysis
New England stunned the league just before the 2009 season by trading Richard Seymour, a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time champion, to Oakland for the Raiders' first-round selection in 2011. The timing created immediate controversy, and Seymour initially did not report. Once he arrived, however, Oakland did not receive a fading name. It received a still-effective defensive lineman who became one of the strongest veterans on the roster.
Seymour spent four seasons with the Raiders, making the Pro Bowl in 2010 and 2011 and recording 18.5 sacks during his Oakland tenure. He played multiple spots across the front and brought championship experience to a team trying to escape years of instability. The Raiders never reached the playoffs with him, and the cost of a future first remained substantial, but his actual performance was far better than a simple rental or decline-phase acquisition.
The Patriots' patience paid off when Oakland's 2011 pick settled at No. 17. New England selected Colorado tackle Nate Solder, who quickly became a starter and ultimately spent seven seasons protecting Tom Brady. Solder started 95 regular-season games for the Patriots and was part of the teams that won Super Bowls XLIX and LI. The club replaced an aging, expensive defensive star with a young cornerstone at a premium position and controlled him through most of his prime.
This is a trade where both sides can reasonably feel they obtained what they wanted. Oakland received four productive seasons and two Pro Bowls from Seymour, worthy of a B. New England received more years, a younger contract and championship-level offensive line value from Solder, earning an A. The Patriots win on long-term roster economics and longevity, but the Raiders' return was substantial enough that the deal should not be remembered as a fleecing.