Dallas sent defensive tackle Ken Frost to Cleveland on May…
Dallas sent defensive tackle Ken Frost to Cleveland on May 13, 1963, for the Browns' 1964 third-round draft choice, later No. 39 overall. Frost never appeared in a regular-season game for Cleveland and was waived before the season, while Dallas converted an injured player into a valuable third-round asset. Even without direct player production from the pick, the Cowboys clearly gained more.
Cleveland Browns Received
- player Ken Frost
Dallas Cowboys Received
- pick 1964 third round pick (#39-Roger Pillath)
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Ken Frost had shown promise in Dallas, appearing in 17 games over his first two NFL seasons, but a serious knee injury in 1962 changed his trajectory. On May 13, 1963, the Cowboys sent the defensive tackle to Cleveland for the Browns' 1964 third-round draft choice. Cleveland's draft history confirms that its third-rounder went to Dallas for Frost, and the choice ultimately occupied the No. 39 slot in the 1964 draft.
What Dallas Received
Dallas turned a player facing major injury uncertainty into a third-round asset. The Browns' choice later became the No. 39 selection, associated with Roger Pillath after the pick moved again. The Cowboys did not need the selection to become a long-term Dallas player for the original exchange to hold value: obtaining a third-round choice for a player who would not appear in another NFL regular-season game was a strong piece of asset management.
What Cleveland Received
Frost never reached the field for Cleveland in a regular-season game. His entire NFL playing career consisted of 17 appearances for Dallas in 1961 and 1962, including six starts. Cleveland waived him before the 1963 season, meaning the Browns surrendered a meaningful future selection without receiving regular-season production in return. The knee injury that had ended Frost's 1962 season ultimately prevented the gamble from paying off.
Final Verdict
Dallas Cowboys Win. Dallas earns a B because it extracted a third-round draft choice from a player whose NFL career was effectively finished. Cleveland gets a D because Frost never appeared in a regular-season game for the Browns before being waived. The Cowboys' later handling of the pick does not change the value created at the moment of this trade: Dallas gained a real draft asset, while Cleveland received no on-field return.