Dallas acquired Jim Boeke and received meaningful…
Dallas acquired Jim Boeke and received meaningful offensive-line value: seven starts in 1964, a regular left-tackle role in 1965 and 10 starts in 1966. The Rams received the bigger long-term prize in Les Josephson, who spent a decade with Los Angeles and made the 1967 Pro Bowl after an 800-yard rushing, 400-yard receiving season. Los Angeles wins, A to B.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- player Jim Boeke
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Les Josephson
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On August 19, 1964, Dallas sent rookie running back Les Josephson to the Los Angeles Rams for veteran tackle Jim Boeke. Contemporary accounts describe Dallas as needing offensive-line help because of injuries, while Los Angeles was looking for backfield talent. Both clubs received players who became legitimate contributors, making this a quality trade with a clear long-term difference rather than a one-sided failure.
Dallas Cowboys Return
Dallas received Boeke and used him immediately. Historical records show seven starts in 1964, including work at left tackle while the line was depleted. He became the regular left tackle in 1965 and started 10 games in 1966 before a knee injury changed the depth chart. Boeke remained with Dallas beyond that stretch and provided exactly the kind of stabilizing veteran line play the Cowboys were seeking. A B grade recognizes multiple seasons of useful starter-level service.
Los Angeles Rams Return
Los Angeles received Josephson and found a much longer-lived offensive piece. He played 129 games across ten Rams seasons. His best year came in 1967, when he rushed for 800 yards, caught 37 passes for 400 more, scored eight combined rushing and receiving touchdowns and earned a Pro Bowl selection. Even outside that peak, Josephson contributed as a runner and receiver for years, giving the Rams a sustained return from a player Dallas had signed as an undrafted rookie.
Value in Hindsight
The Rams' advantage comes from duration and peak production, not from Boeke failing. Dallas solved a real line problem and received a credible starter. Los Angeles simply extracted more total value: a decade of service and a Pro Bowl season from Josephson.
Final Verdict
Los Angeles wins the trade, earning an A for Josephson's long, productive Rams career. Dallas receives a B for Boeke's several seasons of meaningful tackle service. The grades preserve the value Dallas actually received while recognizing that Josephson became the transaction's most consequential asset.