Buffalo traded quarterback Matt Cassel and a 2017…
Buffalo traded quarterback Matt Cassel and a 2017 seventh-round pick to Dallas on September 22, 2015 for a 2017 fifth-round pick. The Bills eventually used No. 171 on Nathan Peterman, while Dallas later used No. 228 on Joey Ivie. Cassel provided short-term quarterback depth for the Cowboys, but neither team's draft outcome became a durable success. The realized value on both sides remained modest.
Buffalo Bills Received
- pick 2017 5th round pick (171st overall, Nathan Peterman )
Dallas Cowboys Received
- player Matt Cassel
- pick 2017 7th round pick (228th overall, Joey Ivie )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Dallas acquired Matt Cassel and Buffalo's 2017 seventh-round pick on September 22, 2015, sending the Bills a 2017 fifth-round selection. The later draft slots became No. 171 Nathan Peterman for Buffalo and No. 228 Joey Ivie for Dallas. The trade combined an immediate quarterback need for the Cowboys with a modest draft upgrade for the Bills.
Buffalo Bills Return
Buffalo moved on from Cassel and improved its future draft position from the seventh round to the fifth. That was reasonable asset management for a player who was not central to the Bills' plans. Peterman eventually came from the acquired pick, but his Buffalo tenure did not become a positive long-term result. The higher selection therefore carried more theoretical value than realized football value.
Dallas Cowboys Return
Dallas needed quarterback help after injury disrupted the season, and Cassel provided an experienced option who could start games immediately. His performance did not solve the position, but the club at least received short-term utility at a time of need. Ivie, the later seventh-round pick, did not become a major long-term contributor, so the Dallas side also remained limited.
Value in Hindsight
Both teams can defend the logic without claiming a major success. Buffalo gained draft position but did not turn it into a productive long-term player. Dallas acquired emergency quarterback depth, yet Cassel's starts did not produce enough value to justify a strong winning grade. The later seventh-round outcome adds little separation.
Final Verdict
Buffalo and Dallas each receive a C-. The Bills improved their draft slot, and the Cowboys addressed an immediate quarterback shortage, but neither side converted the transaction into durable value. With the principal returns producing more utility than impact, the fairest hindsight result is an Even Trade.