Dallas traded veteran guard John Niland to Philadelphia for a…
Dallas traded veteran guard John Niland to Philadelphia for a 1977 third-round pick. Niland started 13 games for the Eagles in 1975 but a knee injury cut short his Philadelphia tenure. Dallas used the No. 62 choice on Tony Hill, who became a three-time Pro Bowl receiver with 7,988 yards and 51 touchdowns. That extraordinary third-round conversion makes this a clear Cowboys win.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- pick 1977 third round pick (#62-(Leroy) Tony Hill)
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- player John Niland
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
Philadelphia acquired veteran guard John Niland from Dallas in September 1975. The Cowboys received a future third-round selection, which became the No. 62 pick in the 1977 draft. Dallas used it on Stanford receiver Tony Hill.
Why Philadelphia Made the Move
Niland arrived with an elite résumé from his Cowboys years and gave the Eagles immediate credibility on the offensive line. He started 13 games in 1975. The trade turned against Philadelphia when a knee injury the next year shortened his effective tenure and prevented the club from receiving the multi-season veteran value it expected.
What Tony Hill Became in Dallas
Hill developed into a major offensive weapon. He made three Pro Bowls, accumulated 7,988 receiving yards and scored 51 touchdowns. A third-round selection becoming a decade-long, high-level starting receiver is an exceptional outcome, particularly when the outgoing veteran was already near the end of his career.
Why the Timing Favored Dallas
The Cowboys were willing to defer their return for more than a year. That patience mattered. Philadelphia got the immediate starter, but Dallas converted future draft capital into a player who became part of the next generation of the offense.
Final Verdict
Dallas wins emphatically and earns an A+. Hill's career makes the third-round pick vastly more valuable than the remaining Eagles years of Niland. Philadelphia still receives a C because Niland started almost a full season and the injury was difficult to predict, but the realized value gap became enormous once Hill emerged.