Dallas Cowboys–Las Vegas Raiders Trade History

Oakland purchased quarterback Don Heinrich's contract from Dallas for an undisclosed amount on July 9, 1962. Heinrich made one start for Oakland, throwing for 156 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in his final pro season. In hindsight, the grades are C for Dallas Cowboys and C+ for Oakland Raiders, producing a Oakland Raiders Win verdict. The modest scoring reflects the limited scale of the transaction.

Dallas sent Gloster Richardson to Oakland on July 31, 1972 for a 1974 fourth-round pick that became Ken Hutcherson. Richardson never played a regular-season game for the Raiders, but Oakland moved him to Cleveland six weeks later for another fourth-round pick, No. 93, eventually used on Morris Bradshaw. Bradshaw became a long-term Raider, while Hutcherson played one season in Dallas, giving Oakland the stronger chain.

The Raiders acquired cornerback Ron Fellows from Dallas for wide receiver Rod Barksdale in August 1987. Fellows went on to appear in 26 games with 12 starts for the Raiders across the next two seasons, giving them a measurable defensive return. Barksdale's Dallas contribution was smaller, so the player-for-player swap leans modestly toward the Raiders in hindsight.

Dallas traded Steve Wisniewski's rights and a sixth-rounder for Raiders selections in the second, third and fifth rounds. The key payoff was fullback Daryl Johnston, a two-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champion who became an important part of the Cowboys' dynasty. Rhondy Weston and Willis Crockett added little, leaving Dallas with a strong but narrower return than the Raiders received.

Dallas sent five late-round selections in the 1990 draft to the Raiders for the rights to defensive back Stan Smagala. The package included picks 158, 197, 230, 259 and 304. Los Angeles immediately had a deep bundle of movable draft capital, while Smagala did not become an impact Cowboy. The volume and flexibility of the Raiders' return outweigh the limited player value Dallas received.

Dallas acquired offensive lineman Dale Hellestrae from the Raiders in August 1990 for a conditional 1991 draft pick that became seventh-round No. 180. Hellestrae then appeared in every regular-season game for Dallas from 1990 through 2000 and became a trusted long snapper on three Super Bowl champions. That extraordinary longevity makes the Cowboys the clear winner.

Dallas acquired guard John Gesek from the Raiders in September 1990 for a 1991 fifth-round pick, No. 124. Gesek became a substantial Cowboys starter during the club’s championship-building years. The Raiders retained value in the pick and later moved it to New England, but Dallas received the stronger direct football return from the original exchange.

Dallas acquired quarterback Steve Beuerlein from the Raiders before the 1991 season for a 1992 fourth-round selection. Beuerlein became valuable insurance behind Troy Aikman, going 4-0 as a starter, throwing for 909 yards in eight appearances and helping Dallas win a playoff game. The Raiders later used the acquired pick as part of the package for Eric Dickerson, giving Los Angeles meaningful downstream value as well.

Dallas acquired cornerback Garry Lewis from the Raiders in February 1992 for seventh-round No. 190. The Raiders later moved that pick, while Dallas eventually sent Lewis to Tampa Bay and recovered additional late-round value through that move. Lewis never became a Cowboys regular, so the margin is small, but Dallas squeezed slightly more flexibility from the original acquisition.

Dallas traded receiver and returner Alexander Wright to the Los Angeles Raiders on October 13, 1992, for a conditional 1993 third- or fourth-round pick. Contemporary reporting and the league transaction log support October 13 rather than October 12. The condition produced pick No. 96, used on Ron Stone. Wright gave the Raiders immediate value, but Dallas obtained the more durable team asset and wins narrowly.

Dallas acquired veteran defensive back Elvis Patterson and the Raiders' 1994 seventh-round pick, No. 216, while sending its 1994 fifth-round No. 159 and seventh-round No. 217. The selections became Roosevelt Patterson, Toddrick McIntosh, and Rob Holmberg. None of the draft outcomes made the deal a major long-term event, but Dallas received immediate veteran depth plus a comparable late pick, creating a small Cowboys edge.

Dallas acquired defensive lineman Kenyon Coleman and received useful snaps across multiple seasons. Coleman gave the Cowboys a tangible veteran return rather than speculative future value, and his immediate role exceeded what Oakland ultimately realized from the two late-round selections it received. The advantage is not enormous, but Dallas obtained the clearer football benefit from the direct exchange.

Dallas Cowboys received 2004 7th round pick (205th overall, Nate Jones); 2004 7th round pick (223rd overall, Jacques Reeves) in the 2004-04-25 exchange with Las Vegas Raiders. Nate Jones and Jacques Reeves both became durable defensive and special-teams contributors. Reeves in particular logged extensive NFL playing time, giving Dallas a strong return from two seventh-round selections. The direct return and the football value it produced drive the hindsight judgment. Against the assets Dallas Cowboys surrendered, the result supports Dallas Cowboys Win and a B grade for Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas Cowboys received Chris Cooper, while Las Vegas/Oakland Raiders received future considerations. Dallas acquired Chris Cooper, who appeared in two games before being waived in early November. Contemporary reporting called Oakland's return future considerations, while later accounts describe a conditional draft choice that was not exercised. Oakland therefore received no realized selection and Dallas received only brief depth. That outcome supports a C- grade for Dallas Cowboys, a C- for Las Vegas/Oakland Raiders, and a Even Trade verdict.

Oakland moved up four spots for safety Tyvon Branch, sending Dallas picks No. 104 and No. 213. Branch became a long-term Raiders starter with four consecutive seasons of at least 94 tackles. Dallas transformed the incoming choices into Tashard Choice and Orlando Scandrick; Scandrick played nine seasons for the Cowboys and became a regular starter. Both sides did extremely well, but Dallas created greater combined value.

Dallas acquired Brice Butler plus the sixth-round pick used on Anthony Brown. Butler supplied three seasons of useful receiving depth, while Brown became the far more valuable piece, developing into a long-term Cowboys cornerback with extensive starting experience. Combining a serviceable receiver with a durable defensive starter gave Dallas an excellent aggregate return and substantially more total club value than Oakland received.

Dallas acquired fullback Jamize Olawale plus the sixth-round selection at No. 192. Olawale appeared in 32 Cowboys games across 2018 and 2019, contributing as a fullback, reserve runner, and special-teams player. The draft pick was later moved again, so it is best treated as retained transaction value rather than direct player production. Olawale's two seasons still gave Dallas the steadier realized return.

Dallas sent Ryan Switzer to the Raiders and received defensive lineman Jihad Ward in a straight player-for-player swap during the 2018 draft weekend. Neither acquisition became a major long-term piece for the new club, and neither side created a meaningful downstream asset advantage. The deal produced limited depth value on both sides, leaving the exchange essentially even.

Dallas sent a 2019 first-round pick to Oakland for Amari Cooper and immediately transformed a passing game that had lacked a true No. 1 target. Cooper helped spark a 2018 division-title run, produced multiple Pro Bowl seasons in Dallas and gave Dak Prescott a polished separator in his prime. The cost was significant, but the Cowboys received several years of top-level production from the exact position they needed.

Dallas sent 2019 fifth-round No. 149 to Oakland, which used the pick on Hunter Renfrow, for fifth-round No. 158 Michael Jackson and seventh-round No. 218 Mike Weber. Renfrow became a productive Raiders slot receiver and Pro Bowl-level contributor, while Dallas received far less lasting value from its two selections. Oakland clearly won the exchange.

Las Vegas Raiders received 2019 5th round pick (149th overall, Hunter Renfrow) in the 2019-04-27 exchange with Dallas Cowboys. Hunter Renfrow became a Pro Bowl receiver, topped 1,000 receiving yards in a season, and developed into one of the Raiders' most productive later-round selections of the era. The direct return and the football value it produced drive the hindsight judgment. Against the assets Las Vegas Raiders surrendered, the result supports Las Vegas Raiders Win and a A- grade for Las Vegas Raiders.

Dallas Cowboys received Johnathan Hankins and 2024 7th round pick (233rd overall, Nathan Thomas). Dallas added veteran defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins for immediate interior-line help and also received a future seventh-round choice. Hankins was the only established NFL player in the package when the deal was made. Dallas obtained the more useful mix of present and future value, so the existing Cowboys advantage remains the best fit. That outcome supports a B+ grade for Dallas Cowboys.