Dallas acquired guard Montrae Holland from Denver shortly…

The Exchange

Dallas acquired guard Montrae Holland from Denver on August 28, 2008, sending a fifth-round selection in the 2010 draft to the Broncos. The pick ultimately settled at No. 158. Denver later moved that choice through additional transactions, so the final selection of Matt Tennant belongs to the later path of the asset rather than the direct return from Dallas. Denver Broncos Return Denver's side was straightforward value recovery. The Broncos moved a veteran lineman and gained a future fifth-round pick, preserving a chance to add younger talent or use the selection in another deal. Because the pick was two drafts away, its immediate roster value was limited, and Denver eventually chose to move it rather than make the No. 158 selection itself. Dallas Cowboys Return Dallas received Holland, an experienced guard who could step into the offensive-line room without a development period. The Cowboys surrendered neither a premium pick nor a current-year selection. For a team seeking dependable depth, the price was reasonable. Holland was not a transformational addition, but the trade delivered a known player for a relatively small future cost. Value in Hindsight Neither side extracted star-level value, which keeps this in the middle of the grading scale. Denver did well to recover a fifth-round asset, but the delayed pick did not itself become a direct long-term Broncos contributor. Dallas, meanwhile, received immediate roster utility for a cost that was unlikely to materially limit future team building. Final Verdict Dallas earns a C+ and Denver a C. The difference is narrow: the Broncos received legitimate draft currency, while the Cowboys obtained the more direct football use from the exchange. Because the fifth-round pick later moved again and Holland was a depth-oriented acquisition, this remains a modest Dallas win rather than a decisive result.