Dallas acquired the No. 1 pick before the 1991 draft and…
Dallas acquired the No. 1 pick before the 1991 draft and selected Russell Maryland, sending New England three veterans plus the 11th and 41st selections. Maryland became a Pro Bowl defensive lineman and part of three Cowboys Super Bowl champions. New England received substantial quantity, including long-term starter Pat Harlow, making this a productive deal for both sides.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- pick 1991 first round pick (#1-Russell Maryland)
New England Patriots Received
- player Ron Francis (b)
- player David Howard (a) / Davie Howard
- player Eugene Lockhart
- pick 1991 first round pick (#11-Pat Harlow)
- pick 1991 second round pick (#41-Jerome Henderson)
Trade Analysis
Dallas paid a five-asset package for the first overall pick, so Russell Maryland needed to become more than a competent starter. He did. Maryland spent his first five seasons with the Cowboys, made the Pro Bowl as a rookie and became a regular on defenses that supported three Super Bowl championships. He was not the most decorated star on those teams, but he gave Dallas dependable interior line play during the exact window the club was building into a dynasty.
New England's return was substantial enough that the trade should not be framed as a giveaway. The Patriots added veterans Ron Francis, David Howard and Eugene Lockhart along with two high draft choices. Pat Harlow, selected 11th, became the best long-term piece and developed into a durable NFL tackle with 94 career starts. Jerome Henderson, taken 41st, also gave New England useful defensive-back play before continuing a long career elsewhere. The veterans added immediate roster depth at a time when the Patriots were rebuilding.
The difference is the fit between outcome and organizational objective. Dallas was already accumulating young talent and wanted a premium defender who could step into a championship-bound core. Maryland fulfilled that role and remained a contributor through all three title runs. New England correctly sought volume and received several useful players, especially Harlow, so its grade belongs comfortably above average. Dallas earns the slight edge because the Cowboys paid for the right to choose first and converted that expensive opportunity into exactly the kind of durable, championship-era starter they needed.