Dallas Cowboys received 1982 eleventh round pick (#295-George…

The Exchange

On 1981-08-31, Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers completed a deal in which Dallas Cowboys received 1982 eleventh round pick (#295-George Thompson), while Tampa Bay Buccaneers received Aaron Mitchell. The comparison centers on what each original club actually obtained from the exchange. Later moves matter only when they identify the value attached to an asset that changed hands.

Dallas Cowboys Return

Dallas Cowboys received 1982 eleventh round pick (#295-George Thompson) from Tampa Bay Buccaneers, sending Aaron Mitchell the other way. Mitchell supplied the Buccaneers with actual defensive-back service, while Thompson did not generate meaningful NFL return for Dallas, so Tampa Bay holds the clearer if still modest advantage. That outcome supports a C- grade for Dallas Cowboys, and the overall verdict is Tampa Bay Buccaneers Win.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Return

Tampa Bay Buccaneers received Aaron Mitchell from Dallas Cowboys, sending 1982 eleventh round pick (#295-George Thompson) the other way. Mitchell supplied the Buccaneers with actual defensive-back service, while Thompson did not generate meaningful NFL return for Dallas, so Tampa Bay holds the clearer if still modest advantage. That outcome supports a B- grade for Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the overall verdict is Tampa Bay Buccaneers Win.

Value in Hindsight

Contemporary reporting and the 1982 draft-trade record establish that Tampa Bay acquired Aaron Mitchell from Dallas on August 31, 1981 for an eleventh-round choice that became No. 295 George Thompson. Mitchell supplied the Buccaneers with actual defensive-back service, while Thompson did not generate meaningful NFL return for Dallas, so Tampa Bay holds the clearer if still modest advantage. If a draft choice was moved again, the later trail can explain what the original consideration became, but unrelated success after another transaction is not credited twice. Where one historical detail remains uncertain, the evaluation uses the strongest supported description instead of filling the gap with speculation.

Final Verdict

The final call is Tampa Bay Buccaneers Win. Dallas Cowboys receives C-, while Tampa Bay Buccaneers receives B-. Tampa Bay Buccaneers gets the edge because its direct return produced the stronger supported value for the original club. The grades remain proportional to the size and certainty of the exchange, rewarding real value while keeping a measured distinction between a clear edge and an overwhelming win.