Dallas Cowboys–Los Angeles Rams Trade History

Dallas Cowboys received Jim Harris / Jimmy Harris (a). Dallas received Jimmy Harris, who started nine games for the Cowboys in 1961 and intercepted two passes. That gave Dallas immediate, documented defensive production from the player it acquired. The Rams' fifth-round selection did not generate comparable NFL value, making the Cowboys the clear winner. That stronger outcome supports a B grade for Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas acquired Hugh Pitts' NFL rights from the Rams for guard Al Barry in July 1960, but the exchange produced no regular-season value for either receiving club. Pitts had already signed with the AFL's Houston Oilers and never played for Dallas. Barry likewise never appeared in a Rams regular-season game after the deal. With both acquired assets yielding zero games, the trade grades D-minus on both sides and finishes even.

Dallas Cowboys received John Houser in the 1960-09-06 exchange with Los Angeles Rams. John Houser's Dallas stay was limited and did not create a strong long-term advantage for the Cowboys. The direct package, rather than later movement of any acquired asset, is the basis for the hindsight judgment. Against what Dallas Cowboys surrendered, the result supports Even Trade.

Los Angeles sent linebacker Bob Long and defensive tackle John Meyers to Dallas on September 7, 1962 for a 1964 third-round choice. The Rams later used that selection at No. 32 on Willie Brown. Dallas earns the edge because Meyers supplied starting value and Long added depth for the cost of one third-round choice. Los Angeles retained reasonable draft value, so the trade was not lopsided, but the Cowboys realized more usable football value.

Dallas acquired Jim Boeke and received meaningful offensive-line value: seven starts in 1964, a regular left-tackle role in 1965 and 10 starts in 1966. The Rams received the bigger long-term prize in Les Josephson, who spent a decade with Los Angeles and made the 1967 Pro Bowl after an 800-yard rushing, 400-yard receiving season. Los Angeles wins, A to B.

Dallas received three seasons of dual-purpose kicking and punting from Danny Villanueva, including a 107-point 1966 season. Los Angeles did even better with Tommy McDonald: 67 catches, 1,036 yards, nine touchdowns and a Pro Bowl selection in 1965, followed by 714 yards in 1966. Both sides gained real starters, but McDonald's peak gives the Rams the edge, A-minus to B-plus.

Dallas Cowboys received 1969 fifth round pick (#125-Chuck Kyle) in the exchange with Los Angeles Rams. Dallas received the 1969 fifth-round choice that became Chuck Kyle, but the draft return did not approach Bacon's sustained impact in Los Angeles. The supported hindsight grade is D+. That mark reflects realized value tied directly to this transaction, with the overall result recorded as Los Angeles Rams Win.

Los Angeles acquired wide receiver Lance Rentzel from Dallas on May 19, 1971 for tight end Billy Truax and wide receiver Wendell Tucker. Rentzel started all 28 Rams games in 1971 and 1972, catching 65 passes for 899 yards and six touchdowns over those two seasons, then returned as a reserve in 1974. Truax gave Dallas useful tight-end service, while Tucker never appeared in a Cowboys regular-season game.

Dallas acquired tight end Jim Price from the Los Angeles Rams on October 5, 1993 for a 1994 sixth-round pick. The Rams used the selection, No. 189, on Ronald Edwards. Dallas was seeking an in-season veteran option and paid only late draft capital, while Los Angeles converted a movable player into a rookie opportunity. Neither side found major long-term value, but Dallas received the slightly clearer immediate benefit.

Dallas sent a 1995 fourth-round pick to the Rams for the 1994 sixth-round selection used on Darren Studstill. Studstill played 16 NFL games and provided little sustained value. Los Angeles later traded the future fourth-rounder to Denver for quarterback Tommy Maddox, who appeared in five Rams games in 1994 and served as short-term depth.

Rams received Bobby Carpenter in the exchange with Dallas Cowboys. Its C grade reflects the practical value of that return relative to the package surrendered and the hindsight result. The grade remains tied to documented value for the acquiring club, without assigning credit for unresolved or hypothetical downstream consideration.

Dallas jumped from No. 14 to No. 6 in the 2012 draft to select cornerback Morris Claiborne, sending St. Louis the 14th and 45th picks. The Rams used No. 14 on Michael Brockers, who became a long-term defensive-line starter, then traded No. 45 to Chicago for picks used on Isaiah Pead and Rokevious Watkins. Claiborne had useful stretches but injuries limited his Dallas impact. Brockers makes the Rams clear winners.

Dallas acquired Tavon Austin from the Rams for the 192nd pick in the 2018 draft. Dallas acquired Tavon Austin and got two seasons of offensive and return-game work from him. Austin produced multiple touchdowns and gave the Cowboys a flexible speed option who could contribute in several roles. The impact was not star-level, but Dallas extracted useful snaps and scoring value from a very modest acquisition cost. In hindsight, that result supports a B- grade for Dallas Cowboys in a deal ultimately judged as Dallas Cowboys Win.