Dallas sent tight end Richard Gicewicz to New England in June…

The Exchange

Dallas traded tight end Richard Gicewicz to New England on June 26, 1991 for the Patriots' twelfth-round selection in the 1992 draft. That choice became No. 317, where Dallas selected Don Harris. The exchange sat at the very bottom of the draft-value spectrum: New England chose a known player, while Dallas accepted one more late chance to find roster depth. Dallas Cowboys Return The Cowboys received No. 317 and used it on Harris. A twelfth-round pick carried long odds, so Dallas was never likely to create a major return from the selection. Still, the club gained a future asset rather than losing Gicewicz without compensation. In a transaction this small, simply preserving another draft opportunity has some value. New England Patriots Return New England received Gicewicz at an extremely low acquisition cost. The Patriots were effectively exchanging one of the final selections in the following draft for a player who could compete immediately. The move did not create a major long-term payoff, but the price was low enough that the decision itself was defensible even without a lasting result. Value in Hindsight Neither Harris nor Gicewicz turned the trade into a meaningful franchise event. That keeps both grades near average and makes the distinction about asset management rather than production. Dallas transformed a movable player into a draft choice, while New England bought a short-term roster option for a pick with limited expected value. The Cowboys' extra opportunity gives them the slightest advantage. Final Verdict Dallas earns a C+ and New England a C. The Patriots did not overpay, so their side is hardly damaging. Dallas, however, recovered a real selection and kept future roster flexibility from a player it was willing to trade. The outcome is a narrow Cowboys win in a very low-stakes exchange.