Dallas Cowboys–Miami Dolphins Trade History

Miami sent receiver Otto Stowe to Dallas and received Ron Sellers plus the 1974 second-round pick used on Benny Malone. Sellers contributed only briefly for the Dolphins, but the premium draft choice gave Miami substantially more long-term asset value than Dallas received from Stowe's short 1973 stay. The second-round return keeps this as a clear Dolphins win.

Miami acquired guard Burton Lawless from Dallas in a conditional 1980 deal, but released him before the regular season. Lawless therefore produced no Dolphins regular-season contribution, and his later 1980 service came with Detroit. Miami took a short look at the veteran without ultimately paying the conditional draft cost.

Miami acquired quarterback Scott Secules from Dallas on August 6, 1989 for a 1990 fifth-round pick that became No. 120, James Gray. Secules served as a Dolphins reserve for three seasons and saw limited passing work. Dallas later included the acquired pick in a draft-day package with New England that brought back higher selections, including the pick used on defensive tackle Jimmie Jones. Dallas converted the asset more effectively.

Dallas moved up from No. 60 to No. 49 and selected linebacker Randall Godfrey, giving Miami the 60th and 99th picks. Godfrey developed into a long-term NFL starter, playing 170 career games. Miami immediately used both acquired picks in later trades, eventually turning them into a larger collection of selections. The Dolphins created flexibility, but Dallas landed the premium player and clearly won the direct exchange.

Miami acquired Jeff Ogden from Dallas for a 2002 seventh-round pick. Ogden became a useful return specialist for the Dolphins in 2000, including a punt-return touchdown, and finished his career with 67 NFL games. Dallas later moved the 237th selection rather than using it on the player eventually chosen there. The direct returns were modest enough that neither side created a meaningful long-term advantage.

Miami moved from No. 56 to No. 52 in the 2001 second round and drafted wide receiver Chris Chambers, sending Dallas Nos. 56 and 122. Chambers played 153 career games, caught 540 passes for 7,648 yards and 58 touchdowns, and made a Pro Bowl. Dallas selected defensive back Tony Dixon and linebacker Markus Steele, both useful contributors, but neither approached Chambers’ sustained offensive production or peak value.

Miami acquired nose tackle Jason Ferguson and the 195th pick from Dallas for pick No. 167 and a 2009 sixth-rounder, No. 197. Ferguson became an immediate Dolphins starter and helped anchor the middle of the defense, while Miami used No. 195 on guard Donald Thomas. Dallas selected Erik Walden and Stephen Hodge with the two incoming choices, but neither created meaningful Cowboys value. The complete compensation strengthens Miami's already favorable result.

Miami acquired tight end Anthony Fasano and linebacker Akin Ayodele from Dallas for the 100th pick in the 2008 draft. Fasano became a productive five-year Dolphin, while Ayodele started for two seasons. Dallas repeatedly moved the incoming pick and ultimately turned the chain into Tashard Choice and Orlando Scandrick, with Scandrick becoming a nine-year Cowboy. Both organizations extracted substantial, durable value from very different paths.

Miami moved up seven spots in the fourth round for linebacker A.J. Edds, surrendering picks used on Akwasi Owusu-Ansah and Sam Young. Edds tore his ACL before his rookie season and never established a Dolphins role. Dallas did not find a major contributor either, but Owusu-Ansah and Young at least appeared in regular-season games for the Cowboys. That small amount of realized value gives Dallas the edge.

Miami acquired offensive lineman Pat McQuistan from Dallas on September 4, 2010 for conditional 2011 draft consideration. The condition ultimately produced no pick exchange, while McQuistan played all 16 games and started eight for the Dolphins.

Dallas acquired Robert Quinn for a future sixth-round pick and received 11.5 sacks in one season. Quinn left in free agency after the year, but the Cowboys bought premium pass-rush production at a minimal draft cost. Miami was clearing salary during a rebuild and recovered a late pick, making the Dolphins' side weak rather than valueless.

Miami and Dallas swapped former high draft picks at cornerback, with Kelvin Joseph going to the Dolphins and Noah Igbinoghene to the Cowboys. Joseph appeared in four games for Miami before being waived in November 2023. Igbinoghene played five games for Dallas without a start and left after the season. Neither club found a durable solution, so the one-for-one reclamation swap produced no meaningful winner.