Dallas Cowboys received Caesar Rayford in the exchange with…
Dallas Cowboys received Caesar Rayford in the exchange with Indianapolis Colts. Caesar Rayford appeared in seven Cowboys games without a start, so Dallas received only a small amount of on-field value. Against Indianapolis Colts' return of 2015 7th round pick (244th overall subsequently traded, Trent Brown), that outcome supports a D+ grade. The transaction is judged as Indianapolis Colts Win, with the mark based on the football value that actually followed from the deal.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- player Caesar Rayford
Indianapolis Colts Received
- pick 2015 7th round pick (244th overall subsequently traded, Trent Brown )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Dallas Cowboys and Indianapolis Colts completed this transaction on 2013-09-03. Dallas Cowboys received Caesar Rayford, while Indianapolis Colts received 2015 7th round pick (244th overall subsequently traded, Trent Brown). The historical record supports the core package, so the fairest comparison is the football value each side actually realized after the exchange.
Dallas Cowboys Return
Caesar Rayford appeared in seven Cowboys games without a start, so Dallas received only a small amount of on-field value. That outcome supports the D+ grade assigned to Dallas Cowboys. The mark gives credit for value traceable to this deal, including playing time, starts, meaningful role performance, or the verified downstream use of a draft choice. It stays proportional to the size of the transaction instead of treating every acquired asset as equally valuable.
Indianapolis Colts Return
Indianapolis packaged the acquired seventh-round pick in a move up for David Parry, who started all 32 Colts games across 2015 and 2016. That outcome supports the B+ grade assigned to Indianapolis Colts. The same standard applies here: realized production and verifiable downstream use matter more than the nominal label attached to the asset. That keeps the comparison focused on what the club actually received rather than hypothetical value that never became part of the return.
Value in Hindsight
Caesar Rayford appeared in seven Cowboys games without a start, so Dallas received only a small amount of on-field value. Indianapolis packaged the acquired seventh-round pick in a move up for David Parry, who started all 32 Colts games across 2015 and 2016. Taken together, those outcomes explain the grade spread. A useful veteran can outweigh a low draft choice when the pick produces little, while a draft asset can win the comparison when it becomes a productive player or creates meaningful value in a later move. The margin here is scaled to the actual difference in team return rather than the reputation of the names involved.
Final Verdict
Indianapolis Colts Win. Dallas Cowboys receives a D+, while Indianapolis Colts receives a B+. The grades reflect the documented exchange and the value that followed from it, with the final margin tied to the importance and longevity of the returns.