Seattle sent tackle Ron Essink to Dallas on August 25, 1987,…
Seattle sent tackle Ron Essink to Dallas on August 25, 1987, for a fifth-round pick in the 1988 draft. One week later, Essink retired because of an elbow problem without playing a regular-season game for the Cowboys. Seattle retained the future selection as a usable asset, even though the pick later moved again. Receiving meaningful draft currency for a player who never suited up for Dallas makes Seattle the clear winner.
Seattle Seahawks Received
- pick 1988 fifth round pick (#120-Chris Gaines)
Dallas Cowboys Received
- player Ron Essink
Trade Analysis
Why Dallas Made the Deal
Dallas was looking for offensive-line help late in the 1987 preseason and acquired Ron Essink from Seattle for a fifth-round selection in the following draft. Essink had veteran experience, so the Cowboys were paying a reasonable future price if he could stabilize the line. The problem was that his availability disappeared almost immediately.
What Dallas Received
Essink never played a regular-season game for Dallas. Contemporary reporting and transaction records show that he retired on September 1, roughly one week after the trade, because of an elbow problem. The Cowboys therefore surrendered a meaningful future pick for no on-field return. Bad luck contributed, but realized value still matters when grading the transaction.
What Seattle Received
Seattle obtained a 1988 fifth-round selection, listed at No. 120 in the draft chain. The Seahawks later moved that draft asset rather than turning it directly into a lasting player, but the pick still carried real transaction value. Most importantly, Seattle received that value for a player who was about to retire and would not have helped the Cowboys.
How the Value Settled
The timing creates the separation. If Essink had given Dallas even a season of competent line play, a fifth-round price could have been reasonable. Instead, his career ended before the regular season while Seattle walked away with a transferable mid-round asset. That is a clean example of one team exiting at exactly the right moment.
Final Verdict
Seattle wins and receives a B. Dallas gets a D because it paid a fifth-round pick and received zero regular-season games. The Seahawks did not turn the return into a franchise-changing player, so the grade stops short of elite territory, but getting draft value for a player days from retirement is still a decisive win.