Buffalo traded three selections, including its 2005…

Buffalo's motivation was easy to understand. Drew Bledsoe was entering the later stage of his career, and the Bills wanted a quarterback they could develop without waiting another year. They moved back into the first round at No. 22 and selected J.P. Losman, paying Dallas a second-round pick, a fifth-round pick and their 2005 first-rounder. For a franchise chasing a long-term answer at quarterback, that type of aggressive move can be justified if the player hits. Losman never hit strongly enough. He showed flashes, most notably in 2006 when he started all 16 games and posted a passer rating above 84, but inconsistency and injuries prevented him from becoming a durable franchise starter. He made 33 starts for Buffalo across five seasons, and the club was still searching for answers when his tenure ended. Dallas converted the package into several tangible contributors. Julius Jones arrived at No. 43 and immediately became a starting running back, rushing for 819 yards in only eight rookie games and surpassing 1,000 yards in 2006. Sean Ryan was a depth tight end. The largest value came a year later, when Buffalo's first-rounder landed at No. 20 and Dallas selected Marcus Spears. Spears spent eight seasons with the Cowboys, started 89 games and became a durable piece of the defensive front. The trade is a reminder that future first-round picks are expensive currency when the quarterback target is uncertain. Buffalo did obtain multiple seasons of starting play, so the move was not empty, but the Bills paid for a franchise-level outcome and received a transitional starter. Dallas accepted patience and was rewarded with a starting running back plus a long-term defensive lineman. The Cowboys' side produced greater cumulative value and much better roster depth.