Dallas received 1998 pick No. 138 from Seattle and used it on…
Dallas received 1998 pick No. 138 from Seattle and used it on offensive lineman Oliver Ross. The Cowboys sent Nos. 162 and 197, which became Carl Hansen and Jason McEndoo. None of the three players became a franchise-level return, but Ross produced the strongest NFL career of the group. Dallas therefore earns a narrow hindsight edge rather than a decisive victory.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- pick 1998 fifth-round pick (No. 138, Oliver Ross )
Seattle Seahawks Received
- pick 1998 sixth-round pick (No. 162, Carl Hansen )
- pick 1998 seventh-round pick (No. 197, Jason McEndoo )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Dallas and Seattle completed a 1998 draft-day swap in which the Cowboys received No. 138 and the Seahawks received Nos. 162 and 197. Dallas selected offensive lineman Oliver Ross. Seattle used its two selections on Carl Hansen and Jason McEndoo. The structure was a familiar move-up versus quantity exchange in the later rounds.
Dallas Cowboys Return
Ross gave Dallas the most substantial player outcome produced by the transaction. His broader NFL career extended well beyond his initial Cowboys tenure and demonstrated that the No. 138 selection had genuine professional value. Dallas did not uncover a star, but landing a player capable of sustaining a long NFL career from a fifth-round choice represents a successful conversion in a modest draft trade.
Seattle Seahawks Return
Seattle gained two selections instead of one. Hansen and McEndoo both reached the NFL, which means the Seahawks did not waste the additional opportunities. Their combined impact, however, did not clearly surpass the career value associated with Ross. The extra pick improved Seattle's odds, but the realized result remained ordinary rather than producing a clear quantity-based win.
Value in Hindsight
The margin should stay small. All three selections came in the later rounds, and none changed the direction of a franchise. Dallas nevertheless came away with the player who had the strongest overall professional career, while Seattle's two-player package did not generate enough combined value to overcome that difference. The Cowboys' edge is about cleaner realized value, not a dramatic draft steal.
Final Verdict
Dallas earns a C+ and Seattle a C. The Cowboys win narrowly because Ross became the best NFL player produced by the exchange, while Seattle's two later selections delivered respectable but lesser combined value.