Dallas Cowboys received 1974 tenth round pick (selection not…
Dallas Cowboys received 1974 tenth round pick (selection not identified), while New England Patriots received Herb Adderley. Dallas sent Herb Adderley to New England for a 1974 tenth-round choice. Adderley's New England stay lasted only weeks before another move, so Dallas at least secured a draft asset while New England gained virtually no regular-season value. The supported history provides enough detail to judge the exchange without overstating uncertain downstream information. Dallas Cowboys earns a C+ grade, and the overall verdict is Dallas Cowboys Win.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- pick 1974 tenth round pick (selection not identified)
New England Patriots Received
- player Herb Adderley
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1973-07-03, Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots completed an exchange in which Dallas Cowboys received 1974 tenth round pick (selection not identified), while New England Patriots received Herb Adderley. The deal was modest in scale, but its core terms are clear enough to evaluate. The useful question is what each club actually turned the acquired player or selection into, rather than what the asset might have become in a different setting.
Dallas Cowboys Return
Dallas Cowboys came away with 1974 tenth round pick (selection not identified). That side receives a C+. The grade reflects direct football value from the acquired asset, including regular-season contribution, starting work, or identifiable draft value where applicable. A smaller return can still be useful, but the score stays proportional to the size of the exchange and the length of the benefit.
New England Patriots Return
New England Patriots received Herb Adderley, which earns a D. The same standard applies here. Immediate playing time counts, durable production counts more, and a selection that never produces meaningful NFL value receives limited credit. The comparison does not award extra value for possibilities that the historical record does not firmly establish.
Value in Hindsight
Dallas sent Herb Adderley to New England for a 1974 tenth-round choice. Adderley's New England stay lasted only weeks before another move, so Dallas at least secured a draft asset while New England gained virtually no regular-season value. That supported outcome gives the clearest hindsight measure of the transaction. Minor date or pick-identity uncertainty remains visible when necessary, but it does not erase an exchange whose base terms are supported. The evaluation therefore follows the value that can be tied directly to what each club received.
Final Verdict
The final judgment is Dallas Cowboys Win, reflecting the stronger supported return in hindsight. Dallas Cowboys receives C+, while New England Patriots receives D. The grades are intentionally scaled to the deal: a useful role or late-round return can win an exchange without being treated like a franchise-changing haul. The final call rests on realized football value and the strongest supported description of the package.