Minnesota acquired New England's rights to Rich Gannon…
Minnesota acquired New England's rights to Rich Gannon shortly after the 1987 draft and ultimately sent fourth- and eleventh-round choices in 1988. Gannon spent six seasons with the Vikings and became a multi-year starter, giving Minnesota useful quarterback value long before his later MVP peak elsewhere. That production outweighs the modest return New England realized from the two selections.
Minnesota Vikings Received
- other rights to Rich Gannon
New England Patriots Received
- pick 1988 fourth round pick (#97-Sammy Martin)
- pick 1988 eleventh round pick (#294-Marvin Allen)
Trade Analysis
New England drafted Rich Gannon in the fourth round in 1987, but the relationship lasted only days. Gannon later recalled that the Patriots traded his rights to Minnesota less than a week after the draft. Patriots and Vikings historical materials support the compensation: Minnesota's 1988 fourth-round choice, No. 97, and its eleventh-round choice were sent to New England, which used them on Sammy Martin and Marvin Allen.
The transaction looks better for Minnesota when judged by what each club actually received. Gannon did not become the league MVP version of himself with the Vikings, so that later Raiders peak should not be credited to Minnesota. He did, however, remain with the franchise for six seasons and developed into a starting option. Minnesota received real quarterback snaps, wins and roster continuity from a pair of later selections.
New England's return was defensible at the time. Turning a player the club was prepared to move into two future draft choices created extra opportunities, and the fourth-rounder was meaningful capital. The problem is that Martin and Allen did not produce a comparable body of NFL work for the Patriots. The gap is not large enough for a dominant grade because Gannon's Minnesota tenure was uneven, but the Vikings received the more useful football return. Minnesota gets the win without borrowing credit from Gannon's much later success in Oakland.
The Patriots' willingness to move Gannon so quickly also lowers the opportunity-cost criticism: they created two future selections from a player outside their plans. Minnesota nevertheless deserves the stronger grade because it turned those picks into an actual multi-season quarterback.