Blogging The Boys
When it comes to making a big splash in trades, the Cowboys have made some historic moves.
The big news in Dallas over the weekend did not come from a move Jerry Jones made as that honor belongs to Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison after he traded the face of his franchise, Luka Doncic, to the Los Angeles Lakers. While this huge head-scratching moment doesn’t come from the Dallas Cowboys, it doesn’t stop people from taking a shot a Jerry Jones.
Sorry Mavs, you guys are on your own with that one.
People won’t waste an opportunity to criticize the Cowboys owner/GM, but when you’re talking about blockbuster trades, Jones is sitting pretty as he’s done more good than bad in this department. Yes, the Trey Lance and Jonathan Mingo deals are fresh in our minds and most people are still caught up on the fifth-round draft capital with the Amari Cooper trade, but when you think about it, the Cowboys aren’t as terrible as some think when it comes to making deals.
What are the team’s most successful trades? Which ones are their worst? In light of the Mavs’ big splash, let’s take a look at some of the biggest deals the Cowboys have made throughout their history.
Trading away Herschel Walker to the Vikings
Most everyone knows all about this one. The Cowboys were terrible in 1989 so they leveraged their best player for a slew of draft picks that Jimmy Johnson turned into to valuable assets. There was also a lot of wheeling and dealing that shuffled around some of those picks, but the return the Cowboys got from that trade is as follows:
That’s a pretty good haul. This trade known as “The Great Train Robbery” remains not only the best trade in Cowboys history, but in NFL history as well.
Trading up to select Tony Dorsett
Both the Cowboys Hall of Fame running backs were acquired through a big trade. In 1977, the Cowboys snookered the Seattle Seahawks out of the No. 2 overall pick that the Cowboys used to take Pittsburgh star running back Tony Dorsett. In return, the Seahawks got the 14th overall pick and three second-rounders.
The Seahawks got a slew of picks, but nothing manifested from them compared to the career that Dorsett had. When he retired, he was second all-time on the NFL rushing list, trailing only Walter Payton.
Trading for Charles Haley
Everything came together for the Cowboys in 1992, and the final piece was acquiring pass-rushing stud Charles Haley from the San Francisco 49ers for a second- and third-round pick. Despite three Pro Bowl seasons (six seasons total) and two Super Bowl wins with the 49ers, Haley had become a headache, allowing the Cowboys to swoop in and grab him for a discounted price.
Haley immediately...
