Dallas moved up to No. 36 in 1992 and acquired No. 121, while…
Dallas moved up to No. 36 in 1992 and acquired No. 121, while Cleveland received five selections spread from the second through twelfth rounds. The Cowboys drafted Jimmy Smith and Rod Milstead, but neither produced regular-season value for Dallas. Cleveland's best direct return was Gerald Dixon, who played 43 games for the Browns and eventually started nine, making Cleveland the stronger team-specific side.
Cleveland Browns Received
- pick 1992 second round pick (#52-Patrick Rowe)
- pick 1992 third round pick (#78-Gerald Dixon (Scott))
- pick 1992 sixth round pick (#163-George Williams (b))
- pick 1992 eighth round pick (#222-Mike Pawlawski)
- pick 1992 twelfth round pick (#329-Tim Simpson)
Dallas Cowboys Received
- pick 1992 second round pick (#36-Jimmy Smith (Lee))
- pick 1992 fifth round pick (#121-Rod Milstead)
Trade Analysis
Why the Deal Happened
Dallas was willing to consolidate a large package of picks to move up to No. 36 and also obtain No. 121. The Cowboys selected wide receiver Jimmy Smith with the higher choice and offensive lineman Rod Milstead with the later one. Cleveland chose quantity, receiving five selections and spreading its chances across several positions. The structure favored Dallas only if one of its two targeted players delivered meaningful value in Dallas.
What Each Team Received
That did not happen. Smith appeared in seven games for Dallas in 1992 without a reception, missed the next season, and became a star only after his Cowboys tenure ended. Milstead did not provide regular-season production for Dallas and was moved before becoming a contributor elsewhere. Cleveland's return was imperfect, but third-round defender Gerald Dixon played 43 games for the Browns and started nine, including nine starts in the franchise's final Cleveland season before relocation.
How the Value Developed
Patrick Rowe, George Williams, Mike Pawlawski and Tim Simpson did not transform the trade, so Cleveland's grade remains moderate. The Browns nevertheless received the only material team-specific playing value from the package through Dixon. Smith's later Jacksonville career is the central trap in evaluating this exchange: his 12,000-plus receiving yards elsewhere show the talent Dallas identified, but they do not erase the fact that the Cowboys realized almost none of that value themselves.
Final Verdict
Cleveland Browns Win. Cleveland earns a B- because a large volume of picks produced one useful multi-season defender rather than a foundational player. Dallas earns a D+ because neither acquired selection became a meaningful Cowboys contributor. The verdict deliberately excludes Smith's later Jacksonville stardom and focuses on what each franchise actually received while controlling the players and picks from this transaction.