quickccc
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In their 60+ years of storied history, the Dallas Cowboys have made some great trades that helped win some championships. And they also had some trade bummers too.
Here’s a look at the best and worst trades in our history:
BEST
- 1989- The Hershel Walker Trade- In arguably one of the most one sided trades in NFL history, the Cowboys traded HW for 4 number one draft picks over a three year period, and the Cowboys turned those picks into guys like Emmitt Smith, Russell Maryland, and Darren Woodson. We also received some spare part players like Ike Holt and Jesse Solomon. That trade became the foundation for the 90s championship run of 3 SB wins in 4 years. It’s was Jimmy Johnson’s greatest move.
- 1977- The Seattle Trade to get Tony Dorsett- on draft day, 1977, everyone knew the Cowboys were looking for a RB. At the last minute it was announced that the Cowboys acquired Seattle’s first round pick (second overall) in exchange for the Cowboys first round pick in 77 plus 3 future 2nd round picks. The Cowboys picked Heisman winner Tony Dorsett. That trade translated into winning the SB that year for the Cowboys and also winning NFC in 77 and 78.
- 1974- The Trade with the Oilers for Too Tall and Danny- the Oilers traded the #1 overall pick in the 1974 NFL draft along with their 3rd round pick to the Cowboys for WR Billy Parks and DE Toadie Smith (Bubba Smith’s little bro) The Cowboys selected Ed “Too Tall” Jones with the first pick. One of the most underrated DL in Cowboys history. Jones played 15 seasons and half of his career, sacks weren’t even kept. He probably had over 100. With the 3rd round pick, the Cowboys acquired QB/P Danny White, who backed up Roger Staubach for 5 seasons before taking over in 1980, leading the team to 3 straight NFC Championships.
WORST
- 1990- The Steve Walsh Trade- I think this is an underrated trade. The Cowboys traded Steve Walsh to New Orleans for a first, second and a third round pick. The Cowboys eventually acquired LB Dixon Edwards and more importantly T Erik Williams with that trade capital.
- 2000- The Joey Galloway Trade- Having lost Michael Irvin to injury in ‘99, Jerry was feeling desperate with the clock ticking on Troy Aikman’s career. Jerry worked a deal with Seattle to acquire WR Joey Galloway in exchange for two Cowboys #1 draft picks- in 2000 and 2001. Galloway suffered a serious knee injury in his first game with Dallas in 2000 and was lost for the entire 2000 season, and Troy ended up retiring at the end of the season. Galloway never turned into much in Dallas.
- 2008 The Roy Williams Trade- Apparently not learning from the Galloway debacle, Jerry pulled another disaster WR trade out of the hat just before the mid-#season trade deadline in 2008. The Cowboys gave up their 2009 first round pick and a third round pick also in 2009 to the lions in exchange for Williams. And he just never fit in. He dropped passes constantly, ran poor routes and was considered lazy. To top it off, in 2009, Williams was given a $54 million contract extension. Probably the worst trade in Cowboys history.
There are certainly more trades- good and bad that could be mentioned. Any thoughts?
- 2012- The Mo Claiborne “trade up”- in the 2012 draft, we traded up 8 spots- giving our 14th and 45th pick in that year’s draft to acquire Morris Claiborne with the 6th pick in that draft. Claiborne spent the next 5 years constantly nursing injuries, blowing coverages and basically sparing us all to death. In 2017-18 he played with the jets, then had a one year stint with the chiefs in 2019. He was out of the league at 29.
Steve Walsh was adequate backup type ...at best. Giving up a 1st round pick per supplemental draft because Jimmie liked and trusted him as a team player - at Miami in college, just did not make sense and ended up being the worst move Jimmie ever made as a Cowboys member, imo.
Especially since Jimmie already had drafted Aikman as a No.1 overall pick in 1989. But giving up another 1st round on a QB, made it clear that early on, Jimmie did not trust Aikman as a leader and player.
Of course as time went on, and other dynamics changed, Jimmie learned to trust Aikman
- and the rest became history.
Walsh wasn't a first round talent. He never played like a first round talent- even when he departed from Cowboys.
We could've still got an Erik Williams and Dixon Edwards - while also making mends on our 1st round pick- who knows what real reputable first round instead of the Walsh supplemental.