Dallas moved down from No. 49 in the 2006 draft and received…
Dallas moved down from No. 49 in the 2006 draft and received No. 53, No. 189 and No. 211 from the Jets. The Cowboys used No. 53 on Anthony Fasano and No. 211 on Pat McQuistan, while No. 189 was moved in a separate next-day trade. The added depth of the package produced more practical value than New York's selection of Kellen Clemens.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- pick 2006 second-round pick (No. 53, Anthony Fasano )
- pick 2006 sixth-round pick (No. 189; traded by Dallas the next day)
- pick 2006 seventh-round pick (No. 211, Pat McQuistan )
New York Jets Received
- pick 2006 second-round pick (No. 49, Kellen Clemens )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Dallas traded the 2006 No. 49 selection to the Jets and received Nos. 53, 189 and 211. New York used No. 49 on quarterback Kellen Clemens. Dallas used No. 53 on tight end Anthony Fasano and No. 211 on tackle Pat McQuistan, while No. 189 was moved in a separate transaction the following day.
Dallas Cowboys Return
The Cowboys preserved a high second-round selection while adding two more pieces of draft capital. Fasano became a useful NFL tight end and gave Dallas immediate roster value before continuing a productive career elsewhere. McQuistan also provided line depth. No. 189 did not become a direct Dallas draftee because the Cowboys later sent that pick back to New York, but its existence still reflects the extra flexibility Dallas extracted in the original move down.
New York Jets Return
The Jets targeted Clemens at No. 49 and paid the additional selections to secure him. Clemens spent multiple seasons with New York and made starts, so the choice was not devoid of value. He never developed into a long-term answer at quarterback, however, which limited the payoff from moving up. The Jets obtained the player they wanted but did not receive enough performance to outweigh the extra capital surrendered.
Value in Hindsight
Trade-down deals are judged by both the value preserved and the usefulness of the added assets. Dallas stayed close to its original draft position and came away with Fasano plus additional flexibility. New York's quarterback gamble produced only limited starting value. The difference is meaningful but not overwhelming.
Final Verdict
Dallas earns a B and the Jets a C. The Cowboys win because the trade-down produced the deeper practical return while New York did not get long-term quarterback value from Clemens.