Dallas Cowboys–New Orleans Saints Trade History

Dallas acquired Larry Stephens from New Orleans for the 1968 fourth-round pick used on Dan Sartin. Stephens remained with the Cowboys during their 1967 championship-game season and gave Dallas the only meaningful team-specific return from the transaction. New Orleans received a draft choice, but Sartin never appeared in a regular-season game for the Saints.

New Orleans traded linebacker Dave Simmons to Dallas for a 1969 fourth-round pick, No. 102, later used on tackle Bob Hudspeth. Simmons played 13 games for the Cowboys in 1968 and intercepted a pass before being released the next year. Hudspeth did not establish an NFL career. The return was short-lived on both sides, but Dallas received actual regular-season contribution and therefore gets the narrow win.

Dallas acquired linebacker Jackie Burkett from New Orleans on August 28, 1968 in exchange for veteran tackle Jim Boeke. Burkett appeared in three games for the Cowboys in 1968 and 11 more in 1969. His Dallas tenure was not a major statistical chapter, but the Cowboys received two seasons of roster service from the player they acquired.

New Orleans reacquired linebacker Jackie Burkett from Dallas on June 23, 1970 for veteran safety Dave Whitsell and rookie running back Tom Broadhead. Burkett played all 14 games, started 10, intercepted four passes, and handled long-snapping duties in his final NFL season.

New Orleans acquired defensive end Willie Townes from Dallas on September 9, 1970 for a 1971 fourth-round pick that became Joe Carter at No. 80. Townes’ Saints tenure was brief, but he appeared in six games and started four. Carter never appeared in an NFL regular-season game for Dallas. Neither return was large, yet New Orleans received actual playing value while the Cowboys’ draft conversion produced none, giving the Saints a narrow win.

New Orleans sent offensive lineman Don Talbert to Dallas for running back Doug Mooers and a 1972 fourth-round pick, No. 104. The Saints later moved that pick onward, so Eric Allen should be treated as the eventual player tied to the selection rather than a New Orleans draftee. Mooers became a 14-game Saints starter in 1972, while Talbert had a smaller Dallas role, giving New Orleans the edge.

New Orleans acquired Joe Williams from Dallas on January 31, 1972, while the Cowboys received the fourth-round choice that became linebacker Tim Kearney at No. 83. Williams appeared for the Saints that season, but Dallas converted the outgoing player into useful draft value. Kearney did not stick with the Cowboys long term, so the advantage is real but appropriately modest.

New Orleans acquired Margene Adkins from Dallas on February 1, 1972, and the Cowboys received the second-round pick used on linebacker John Babinecz at No. 39. Adkins offered the Saints veteran receiving depth, but Dallas turned the exchange into a player who appeared in 26 games over two Cowboys seasons. That stronger and more durable return gives Dallas the clear hindsight edge.

New Orleans acquired linebacker Tom Stincic from Dallas in July 1972, and the Cowboys received the 1973 third-round pick used on Harvey Martin at No. 53. Martin became one of the defining defenders in Cowboys history, earning four Pro Bowls and sharing Super Bowl XII MVP honors. That extraordinary conversion overwhelms the Saints’ modest return and makes this a decisive Dallas victory.

Dallas traded backup quarterback Steve Walsh to New Orleans for first-, third-, and second-round picks across two drafts. Walsh supplied some starting value for the Saints, but Dallas used the package to add Erik Williams and more roster-building capital. Williams became an All-Pro cornerstone of the offensive line that powered three Super Bowl champions.

New Orleans swapped linebacker Chris Bordano for defensive back Kevin Mathis on April 26, 2000. Mathis went on to play 115 NFL games and intercepted 11 passes, while Bordano’s career ended after 33 games and he did not become a Dallas regular. The Saints gained the more durable and productive player without adding draft capital, giving New Orleans the clear edge.

Dallas sent the 70th and 81st selections to New Orleans to move up to No. 53 for quarterback Quincy Carter. Carter started 31 games for the Cowboys, including all 16 in 2003, and finished his career with 6,337 passing yards. New Orleans selected linebacker Sedrick Hodge and defensive lineman Kenny Smith. Hodge became a 43-start contributor and Smith played 36 games, making the deal competitive but giving Dallas a slight positional-value edge.

New Orleans moved up for fullback Mike Karney at pick 156 in 2004, sending Dallas picks 182 and 206. Karney became a five-year Saint and an important lead-blocking fullback, so New Orleans received solid value. Dallas then flipped both acquired picks in separate trades, eventually adding Nate Jones, Jacques Reeves, Darian Barnes and Patrick Crayton. Crayton became a productive long-term receiver, giving the Cowboys a narrow overall edge.

New Orleans acquired linebacker Scott Shanle from Dallas for a 2007 seventh-round pick, which the Cowboys used at No. 237 on defensive back Alan Ball. Both players outperformed the typical expectations of their acquisition cost, but Shanle's long run as a New Orleans starter and championship contributor gives the Saints the stronger result.

New Orleans acquired offensive lineman Asim Richards and a 2028 seventh-round pick from Dallas on August 26, 2025, sending the Cowboys a 2028 sixth-round selection. Richards was a 2023 fifth-round pick who had appeared in 25 games with one start for Dallas. The Saints bought young line depth while moving down only one round in a draft three years away.