Atlanta moved up five spots for defensive back Ron Davis,…
Atlanta moved up five spots for defensive back Ron Davis, sending Dallas the 46th and 110th picks. Davis played only 12 NFL games and made five starts. Dallas selected running back Sherman Williams and tight end Eric Bjornson, who combined for 142 regular-season games and useful supporting roles on a championship roster. The Cowboys turned a small move down into two contributors and won comfortably.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- pick 1995 2nd round pick (41st overall, Ron Davis )
Dallas Cowboys Received
- pick 1995 2nd round pick (46th overall, Sherman Williams)
- pick 1995 4th round pick (110th overall, Eric Bjornson)
Trade Analysis
Why Atlanta Moved Up
Atlanta identified defensive back Ron Davis and moved five places to secure him at No. 41. The price was not enormous: the Falcons gave Dallas their second-round pick at No. 46 plus a fourth-rounder at No. 110. For such a small jump, the logic was understandable if Davis projected as a long-term starter. The problem was entirely in the outcome rather than the scale of the move.
What Dallas Turned the Picks Into
Dallas used No. 46 on running back Sherman Williams and No. 110 on tight end Eric Bjornson. Neither became a star, but both filled real roles. Williams played 60 NFL games and rushed for 1,162 yards, while Bjornson played 82 games, caught 147 passes and spent several seasons as a useful receiving tight end and in-line contributor. Depth mattered on a roster built to contend immediately.
How Atlanta's Target Fared
Davis played only 12 NFL games, all in his rookie season, and made five starts. That short career left Atlanta without the long-term defensive back it expected from an early second-round pick. Dallas, by contrast, received two players whose careers extended well beyond the rookie year. The Cowboys did not land a franchise cornerstone, but the combined utility from two roster contributors easily surpassed Atlanta's brief return.
Final Verdict
Dallas Cowboys Win. Dallas earns a B+ for moving down only five spots and converting the added value into two useful NFL players. Atlanta receives a D+ because the player it moved up to select lasted only 12 games. This was not a blockbuster, yet it illustrates the advantage of adding another meaningful selection when the team moving up fails to hit on its target.