Dallas acquired quarterback Steve Beuerlein from the Raiders…
Dallas acquired quarterback Steve Beuerlein from the Raiders before the 1991 season for a 1992 fourth-round selection. Beuerlein became valuable insurance behind Troy Aikman, going 4-0 as a starter, throwing for 909 yards in eight appearances and helping Dallas win a playoff game. The Raiders later used the acquired pick as part of the package for Eric Dickerson, giving Los Angeles meaningful downstream value as well.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- player Steve Beuerlein
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- pick 1992 fourth round pick (#105; later traded to Indianapolis in Eric Dickerson deal)
Trade Analysis
Why the Deal Happened
The Raiders traded quarterback Steve Beuerlein to Dallas just before the 1991 season for a 1992 fourth-round choice. Contemporary reporting places the agreement on Sunday, August 25, even though the league transaction table posted it on August 26. Dallas wanted experienced insurance behind Troy Aikman. Los Angeles had already moved toward other quarterbacks and preferred a future draft asset for a player it no longer planned to use.
What Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Raiders Received
Beuerlein became unusually valuable insurance. When Aikman was injured in 1991, Beuerlein went 4-0 as a starter, threw for 909 yards in eight appearances and helped Dallas win a playoff game. The Raiders later packaged the acquired No. 105 selection with No. 212 to Indianapolis for Eric Dickerson. Dickerson started 15 games in 1992 and rushed for 729 yards, giving Los Angeles meaningful but short-term value.
How the Value Developed
The original pick should not be credited to Tony McCoy as though the Raiders drafted him; Indianapolis made that selection after receiving No. 105 in the Dickerson deal. Los Angeles instead deserves credit for the pick's role in acquiring Dickerson. That downstream value makes the trade competitive, but Dallas received a quarterback whose undefeated emergency starting stretch directly helped a young contender reach the postseason and stabilize its season.
Final Verdict
Dallas Cowboys Win. Both organizations extracted useful value: Los Angeles turned a surplus quarterback into part of a trade for a Hall of Fame running back, while Dallas obtained the backup it needed at a critical moment. Beuerlein's 4-0 starting record and postseason contribution give Dallas the stronger team-specific result. Dallas earns an A-; the Raiders receive a B- for converting the future pick into one productive season of Dickerson.
Beuerlein's emergency success gave Dallas the stronger direct team-specific return.