Thu, Mar 20, 2008 at 12:00am

HALL HEADS TO OAK-TOWN

The Oakland Raiders acquired defensive back DeAngelo Hall from the Atlanta Falcons for a second-round draft pick in 2008 and a fifth-round draft pick in 2009.

What does it give the Las Vegas Raiders
Hall is a two-time Pro Bowler who at 24 is just entering his prime. He fits in well with the Raiders' defensive focus on shutting down the pass, and along with Nnamdi Asomugha gives Oakland arguably the best corner duo in the NFL. He comes at a much bigger cost financially ($70 Million over seven years) than in terms of picks, as a 2nd-rounder and a 5th-rounder are a bargain for a player of Hall's caliber. It's respectability or bust now for the Raiders.

What does it give the Atlanta Falcons
In terms of talent, the Falcons lose out here (seeing as how they won't likely get a player as good as Hall with the 2nd-rounder). But in terms of peace of mind, this move makes sense for Atlanta. Hall had been a divisive force in the clubhouse and became a headache for management, and the Falcons obviously had qualms about paying him his market value. Instead they go the rebuilding route, which makes sense considering the team's overall situation. They will miss Hall's big-play ability, but obviously not his confrontational approach with team officials.

Fantasy impact