Dallas moved up to No. 146 in the 2014 draft and selected…
Dallas moved up to No. 146 in the 2014 draft and selected wide receiver Devin Street, sending Detroit Nos. 158 and 229. Street provided limited receiving production and did not become a lasting part of the Cowboys offense. Detroit used the two selections on Caraun Reid and Nate Freese, and Reid supplied the best sustained NFL contribution in the deal, giving the Lions a modest hindsight edge.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- pick 2014 5th round pick (146th overall, Devin Street )
Detroit Lions Received
- pick 2014 5th round pick (158th overall, Caraun Reid )
- pick 2014 7th round pick (229th overall, Nate Freese )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Dallas moved up to pick No. 146 in the 2014 draft and selected wide receiver Devin Street. Detroit received picks Nos. 158 and 229, which became defensive tackle Caraun Reid and kicker Nate Freese. The Cowboys paid an extra seventh-round selection to move twelve spots within the fifth round, creating a simple comparison between one targeted receiver and two later Lions choices.
Dallas Cowboys Return
Street gave Dallas a young receiver with size and developmental upside, but he never established a substantial role in the offense. His production remained limited, and he did not become a long-term starter or dependable secondary option. Because the Cowboys sacrificed two picks to secure him, the lack of sustained contribution left little realized value on their side of the exchange.
Detroit Lions Return
Freese did not last long enough to matter much, so Detroit's case rests primarily on Reid. The fifth-round defensive tackle became a useful NFL contributor and provided more sustained value than Street did for Dallas. Reid was not a star, but finding a serviceable defensive lineman at No. 158 gave the Lions enough return to justify moving down and adding another selection.
Value in Hindsight
This was a modest trade and should be graded that way. Detroit did not hit on both picks, and Dallas did not surrender meaningful premium capital. The separation comes from Reid producing the strongest career among the three players attached to the direct picks. His contribution exceeds Street's without turning Detroit's move into a major draft coup.
Final Verdict
Detroit earns a B- and Dallas a C-. Reid gave the Lions the best sustained return in the transaction, while Freese added little and Street failed to become a meaningful Cowboys receiver. The result is a modest Detroit Lions Win rather than a dramatic miss by Dallas.