Dallas Cowboys Trade History: Better When Getting Picks Than When Giving Them

As rumors have surfaced regarding the idea that the Dallas Cowboys might be willing to trade wide receiver Dez Bryant, I am not at all shocked by the idea. I say this not because I don’t like Dez Bryant but rather because of the initial reaction to the idea by so many fans, writers and analysts.

To start with, Bryant is a special talent. This was obvious during his first mini-camp last offseason. I would argue that it was more than obvious based on his somewhat limited highlight reel from Oklahoma State. Right now he is easily one of the top five wide receivers in football, period.

Having noted Bryant’s ability and overall potential heading into the future, I still can see the potential of dealing Bryant as being explosive.

Let’s take a trip back to 1989 real quick. I’ll drop this name and unless you’ve only started following the Cowboys in the last 10-15 years, you will know exactly where I am going.

Herschel Walker.

Remember him? If not, look into the details and results of his trade to Minnesota during the first year of Jerry Jones’ ownership of the franchise. If you do remember this landmark, history-making, power-shifting trade, then I have essentially stated my case.

You never, ever refuse to listen to offers for a given player. It just isn’t good business in the NFL. And you especially listen to offers for a guy who might touch the ball only a few times per game. It never hurts to listen, especially when someone really wants what you have.

Jerry Jones has been on the wrong end of this wide receiver trading a couple of times. Moves that looked really good at the time really didn’t offer what Dallas needed in return. In fact, it wasn’t even close either time.

Handing over multiple first-round picks for a wide receiver is just stupid. This is the main reason I don’t really see Bryant going anywhere unless some desperate team really feels that making a splash might put them over the top. When you factor in the coming labor battle between NFL owners and players, I really don’t see this happening.

But what if?

Where this idea or theory has definite merit is when you consider the Dallas roster, especially at wide receiver. There are not too many of them, but rather too many dollars tied up at that position, at least as it pertains to the current collective bargaining agreement which expires March 4.

But even if we knew that a new, similar deal would be reached and that the offseason would take place as usual, you would have to be aware of not just the money invested in wide receiver but also the absence of valuable resources as a result of dealing for wide receivers the other way. I refer to giving up too much for them.

Take the Joey Galloway trade of 2000. If Jones had a crystal ball at about that time there is no way he gives two first-round picks to Seattle for Galloway. To make matters worse, Galloway suffered a torn ACL in his first game as a Cowboy. But even if he had stayed healthy, would Dallas have finished much better than the 11-5 record which they did? That idea is doubtful.

But then came the issue surrounding Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman going down late that same year never to return.

Oops.

Not having that first-round pick in 2001 was nothing less than devastating to this franchise, and it essentially gave then-head coach Dave Campo no shot at even competing most weeks, let alone rebuilding.

As a final point on the Galloway mess, remember that 2001 was a terrible draft for quarterbacks. Sure Michael Vick went first overall, but Dallas still would not have had a shot – thank goodness. But a guy named Drew Brees went first overall in the second round.

Oops.

Now fast forward to 2008 and look at the Roy Williams trade. Many feel that this was a disaster mainly because Williams did not immediately put up Terrell Owens-type numbers the minute he showed despite the fact Owens was still in Dallas. I still like Williams as a part of the offense because I understand his strengths and weaknesses along with many others. But there is no doubt that this was a bad trade for the Cowboys.

Look no further than the NFL Draft following the Williams trade. This might be the single worst in the history of the franchise and offers the most shining example of why Jones should not be the general manager. Sure, the scouting seemed to really suck rocks and, like the Galloway trade, Jones thought his team was better than it actually was. But the biggest issue was the absence of a first-round pick amongst others—again.

Much of the disaster that was the 2010 regular season for the Dallas Cowboys can be explained by the fact that the Cowboys have tied up tons of money in veteran players now passing or past their prime and have no blue-chip talent to take their place. In other words, there are several little black holes all over the roster that cannot be accounted for because they have swallowed up talent that should be there.

Heading into 2011, regardless of when football is played next, the Cowboys have to do things differently.

The NFL is a young man’s game, as it has always been. But today it’s even younger as a result of the salary cap. You cannot just throw money at the problems that Dallas faces at this time.

With close to $100 million already tied up in two veteran wide receivers who like to drop passes, something has to give before the Cowboys contend again.

You can say that the Williams trade was a bad move, but you would also have to include Jones’ decision to extend Miles Austin, a known pass-dropper already, following such little time spent starting and after he already had selected Dez Bryant!  

If some team wants to help the Cowboys recoup some young talent they have missed out on because of one of the worst general managers in the NFL over the last decade-plus, then bring it on.

Frankly, I would love to see Austin dealt but I do not think you would get enough for it to be worth it and I don’t see anybody wanting that ridiculous contract following his interceptions caused in 2010.

Forget trading Williams, because that would get probably less than what an Austin trade would fetch. Besides, Williams does have better hands than Austin and can still play the possession role quite well. Think Keyshawn Johnson, just for perspective.

That leaves Bryant, easily the best receiver on the roster. What exactly is he worth? It would hurt nothing to find out.

When getting into the trading players in the NFL, it is always better to get the picks than to give them up.