Dallas moved up from No. 60 to No. 49 and selected linebacker…
Dallas moved up from No. 60 to No. 49 and selected linebacker Randall Godfrey, giving Miami the 60th and 99th picks. Godfrey developed into a long-term NFL starter, playing 170 career games. Miami immediately used both acquired picks in later trades, eventually turning them into a larger collection of selections. The Dolphins created flexibility, but Dallas landed the premium player and clearly won the direct exchange.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- pick 1996 2nd round pick (49th overall, Randall Godfrey)
Miami Dolphins Received
- pick 1996 2nd round pick (60th overall subsequently traded, Michael Cheever )
- pick 1996 4th round pick (99th overall subsequently traded, Phillip Daniels )
Trade Analysis
Why Dallas Moved Up
The Cowboys packaged the 60th and 99th picks to climb to No. 49 for Randall Godfrey. The move was aggressive, but it was aimed at a player who became a legitimate long-term starter. Godfrey appeared in all 16 games as a rookie and went on to play 170 NFL games over his career. Dallas received exactly the kind of durable second-round defender that makes a trade-up worthwhile.
What Miami Did With the Picks
Miami did not simply select players at 60 and 99. The Dolphins sent both picks to Jacksonville later in the draft, receiving Nos. 79, 98, 134 and 150. That package produced several additional moves and players, including Shane Burton, who had a solid NFL career. The Dolphins therefore created real flexibility and should not be graded as if the picks disappeared.
How the Returns Compare
Even after tracing Miami's later transactions, Godfrey remains the most valuable player connected directly to this exchange. Dallas secured a linebacker who became a regular starter and played for more than a decade. Miami created volume and eventually found some useful contributors, but the asset tree was more complicated and less impactful than simply landing Godfrey.
Final Verdict
Dallas Cowboys Win. Dallas earns an A- for paying a fair move-up price and selecting a durable starting linebacker. Miami receives a C because the Dolphins intelligently recycled the picks into additional assets but never produced an equivalent centerpiece from the branch. The trade demonstrates the difference between creating draft flexibility and converting that flexibility into one high-value player.