Atlanta received No. 156, used on Garrett Reynolds, and No.…
Atlanta received No. 156, used on Garrett Reynolds, and No. 210, used on Vance Walker. Both players went on to meaningful NFL careers, giving the Falcons two legitimate outcomes from a move down in the draft and creating substantial value from modest selections. That result supports a B+ grade within the Atlanta Falcons Win verdict.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- pick 2009 5th round pick (156th overall, Garrett Reynolds )
- pick 2009 7th round pick (210th overall, Vance Walker )
Dallas Cowboys Received
- pick 2009 5th round pick (143rd overall, DeAngelo Smith )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 2009-04-26, Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys completed an exchange in which Atlanta Falcons received 2009 5th round pick (156th overall, Garrett Reynolds) and 2009 7th round pick (210th overall, Vance Walker), while Dallas Cowboys received 2009 5th round pick (143rd overall, DeAngelo Smith). Both sides obtained identifiable football value, so the hindsight comparison turns on what those pieces actually produced after the move rather than on the number of names or selections in the package. The later careers and roster roles provide the clearest way to separate the returns.
Atlanta Falcons Return
Atlanta received No. 156, used on Garrett Reynolds, and No. 210, used on Vance Walker. Both players went on to meaningful NFL careers, giving the Falcons two legitimate outcomes from a move down in the draft and creating substantial value from modest selections. That result supports a B+ grade within the Atlanta Falcons Win verdict.
Dallas Cowboys Return
Dallas moved up to No. 143 and selected DeAngelo Smith. Smith had very limited impact for the Cowboys, so the higher pick did not translate into the stronger professional result. Dallas paid two selections for a player who never matched the combined output Atlanta found later. That result supports a D grade within the Atlanta Falcons Win verdict.
Value in Hindsight
The trade strongly favors the side that moved down because both later Falcons picks became useful players. Atlanta did not need one breakout star to win; getting real careers from both selections was enough to overwhelm Dallas' limited return. Looking back at the completed careers and downstream outcomes makes the relative value clearer than it was on the day of the exchange.
Final Verdict
Atlanta wins clearly and earns a B+. Dallas receives a D because the move up produced little value compared with the two useful careers the Falcons obtained. The grades are intentionally scaled to the modest size of the transaction and the strength of the documented on-field return.