Raiders Obtain Lineman, Perhaps to Facilitate Quarterback Trade

The Raiders acquired defensive end Barry Bennett from the New York Jets Wednesday for an undisclosed draft choice, thought to be a late-round pick.

Bennett, 32, is a 10-year veteran who started for most of the last three seasons. He is considered durable and dependable, if not sensational, and led the Jets in tackles last season. The Jets, however, moved another veteran, Marty Lyons, into Bennett’s spot late last season.

The Raiders will probably use Bennett as a utility player and backup, a role filled since the retirement of Lyle Alzado by such journeymen as Elvis Franks and Rick Ackerman.

Bennett also provides depth that could make it easier for the Raiders to begin their widely anticipated bid to trade for Kelly Stouffer, the unsigned Cardinal rookie quarterback. The Cardinals are known to be seeking defensive line help.

Teams interested in Stouffer are expected to wait until shortly before the April 24 draft, when the Cardinals are just about to lose their rights, to begin negotiations.

In a side development, the Cincinnati Bengals are expected to introduce a measure at next week’s National Football League meeting in Phoenix, giving teams that fail to sign a draft choice another pick in the same round in the following draft. Thus, should the measure be passed, the Cardinals would get another first-round pick in 1989 if Stouffer refused their offer.

The measure is expected to fail, and the bidding would then begin in earnest.