Roy E. Williams, Dallas Cowboys: The Light at the End of the Tunnel?

Dallas Cowboys Trade

2009 First Round Pick, No. 20 Overall

2009 Third Round Pick, No. 82 Overall

2009 Sixth Round Pick, No. 192 Overall

Detroit Lions Trade

Roy E. Williams

2009 Fourth Round Pick, No. 101 Overall

When we analyze the ramification of that trade, hindsight is not only 20-20, it hurts even more.

My personal thought at the moment of that trade was, "we got the wrong guy."

I wanted Calvin Johnson, who is bigger, faster, stronger, and, more importantly, a better catcher than Roy.

But for the sake of discussion, let's take a look at what could have been, had we not done that trade all together.

With the 20th selection in round one, 2009, Dallas could have selected from: WR Percy Harvin (MIN: 22nd Overall), OT Michael Oher (BAL: 23rd Overall), OLB Clay Mathews (GB: 26th Overall), WR Hakeem Nicks (NYG: 29th Overall), or WR Kenny Britt (TEN: 30th Overall).

With the 82nd selection in round three, 2009, Dallas could have selected: WR Mike Wallace (PIT: 84th Overall), WR Ramses Barden (NYG: 85th Overall), CB Asher Allen (MIN: 86th Overall).

The 192nd selection is irrelevant.

To me, that's a lot of "would-a-could-a-should-a."

Percy Harvin's impact on the Vikings helped surpass the Cowboys in the playoffs. Also, if we had Michael Oher when it came playoff time, we may have had some efficient blocking from our tackles.

But the past is the past; let us discuss the future.

Aside from Peyton Manning and a select other few, living up to that trade value that Roy has been put in is a near impossibility.

Take a look at what has transpired this offseason.

Santonio Holmes, Super Bowl MVP from two seasons ago, was traded to the Jets for a fifth round pick...and nothing else. Holmes has no expectations to live up to.

However, on the other hand, Brandon Marshall does.

His recent trade to Miami involves a second round pick in both this season and next year's draft.

Even that is not as cumbersome as the Roy Williams trade. But in any case, I see Marshall having some of the same issues Roy has been going through if he does not make a splash right away.

As for Roy, he would appear to be at "rock-bottom."

Of course, his numbers weren't extraordinarily dismal, but he certainly did not put up stats worthy of his trade value.

He was demoted to the second option, which he still had trouble maintaining. From what I hear and have read, he had serious problems against Orlando Scandrick in practice and training camp last year.

If we juxtapose them, we notice that Scandrick had trouble against his regular season opponents, generally third-option receivers. That does not make Roy look good at all.

But there must be something working in Roy's favor?

Well, if you do agree with me about Roy being at "rock-bottom," that means he can only improve.

With the emergence of Miles Austin as a serious threat, I expect a bunch of double-teams to go his way, second to Jason Witten.

Since Austin is now the No. 1 option, that generally puts him on the strong side with Witten—placing Roy on the weak-side, and hopefully in single coverage.

Jerry Jones and some of the staff nicknamed Roy "superman" (Notice I don't capitalize, in respect of the real Superman) for his ability to fly all over the field and make the impossible catches...in practice.

If he can transpose that kind of practice play onto the field on Sundays, Roy has the chance to earn that capital "S" and a spot on my fantasy team. Otherwise, expect that trade to go down as one of the top five, worst ever.

Let's hope for the former rather than the latter.