Dallas Cowboys received 1975 fourth round pick (#90-Pat…
Dallas Cowboys received 1975 fourth round pick (#90-Pat Donovan), while Houston Oilers received Mike Montgomery. Dallas sent Mike Montgomery to Houston for the fourth-round choice that became No. 90 Pat Donovan. The supported history provides enough detail to judge the exchange without overstating uncertain downstream information. Dallas Cowboys earns a A- grade, and the overall verdict is Dallas Cowboys Win.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- pick 1975 fourth round pick (#90-Pat Donovan)
Tennessee Titans Received
- player Mike Montgomery
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1974-07-05, Dallas Cowboys and Houston Oilers completed an exchange in which Dallas Cowboys received 1975 fourth round pick (#90-Pat Donovan), while Houston Oilers received Mike Montgomery. 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 1975 fourth round pick (#90-Pat Donovan). That side receives a A-. 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.
Houston Oilers Return
Houston Oilers received Mike Montgomery, 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 Mike Montgomery to Houston for the fourth-round choice that became No. 90 Pat Donovan. Donovan developed into a long-term Cowboys starter and four-time Pro Bowler, giving Dallas the overwhelming return. 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 A-, while Houston Oilers 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.