Dallas acquired safety Thomas Everett from Pittsburgh in…
Dallas acquired safety Thomas Everett from Pittsburgh in September 1992 for the 1993 fifth-round pick that became No. 140 Marc Woodard. Everett became a key Cowboys starter, earned a 1993 Pro Bowl selection and won two Super Bowls with Dallas, while Woodard never played a regular-season game for Pittsburgh. The realized value makes this a decisive Cowboys win.
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- pick 1993 fifth round pick (#140-Marc Woodard)
Dallas Cowboys Received
- player Thomas Everett
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Pittsburgh sent safety Thomas Everett to Dallas in September 1992 and received a 1993 fifth-round draft choice. The Steelers used that selection, No. 140 overall, on Marc Woodard. Dallas was adding a veteran defensive back to a roster moving toward championship contention, while Pittsburgh chose to convert the player into future draft capital. Pittsburgh Steelers Return Woodard did not appear in a regular-season game for Pittsburgh, leaving the Steelers without meaningful on-field production from the draft return. A fifth-round pick is not expected to become a star, so a miss at that spot is not extraordinary by itself. The problem is comparative: Pittsburgh surrendered a player who was about to provide high-value snaps for a championship rival. Dallas Cowboys Return Everett became an important member of the Cowboys' secondary almost immediately. He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 1993 and contributed to teams that won consecutive Super Bowls. That combination of individual recognition, starting responsibility and championship impact is exceptional value for the cost of a fifth-round pick. Dallas acquired a veteran at exactly the point when his experience could enhance an elite roster. Value in Hindsight The separation is unusually clear. Dallas paid a modest future selection and received a Pro Bowl-caliber starter with direct championship value. Pittsburgh's pick produced no regular-season contribution for the Steelers. Even accounting for the uncertainty attached to any fifth-round choice, the difference between a championship starter and no realized team production creates a wide gap that cannot be explained away as normal late-round variance. Final Verdict Dallas earns an A- and Pittsburgh a D+. The Cowboys won decisively by acquiring Everett for a small draft cost and receiving immediate Pro Bowl and Super Bowl-level value. Pittsburgh's fifth-round return never reached the regular-season field for the Steelers. The trade did not involve premium draft capital, but the contrast in realized production makes it one of the clearest outcomes in this group.