Oakland Raiders: Breaking Down the DeAngelo Hall Trade

Depending on who you believe, the Oakland Raiders either just got much better or worse. Although this deal was announced a few days ago, the jury is still out on whether or not the Raiders got what they paid for. We may never really know until a few years from now, but let's try to pick this deal apart and see who really won. The fact that the former eighth overall pick is only 24 years old is probably the biggest plus for the Raiders. They have seven years to mold him to into whatever defensive coordinator Rob Ryan wants him to be.  Of course, you have to take into the equation Hall's actual abilities. This is where the opinions get rather varied. Here's what an NFC personnel executive says about Hall: "He's a talented guy who gives them some plays, but he doesn't play smart at times. He gives up some plays to guys who shouldn't beat him." An AFC scout: "Despite Hall's flaws, I love the way he competes against top receivers, and pairing him with Nnamdi Asamougha ... (link)