Dallas acquired veteran quarterback Jon Kitna from Detroit…
Dallas acquired veteran quarterback Jon Kitna from Detroit for cornerback Anthony Henry in February 2009. Kitna became useful insurance behind Tony Romo and started nine games in 2010 after Romo was injured. Henry's Lions stint was shorter and less successful, making Dallas the clear winner in a veteran-for-veteran exchange that delivered meaningful quarterback depth.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- player Jon Kitna
Detroit Lions Received
- player Anthony Henry
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Dallas and Detroit completed a straight veteran swap on February 28, 2009, with quarterback Jon Kitna going to the Cowboys and cornerback Anthony Henry going to the Lions. The transaction was easy to understand at the time: Dallas wanted experienced quarterback insurance, while Detroit sought help for a defense coming off an 0-16 season.
Dallas Cowboys Return
Kitna initially served as Tony Romo's backup, exactly the role Dallas acquired him to fill. His value became obvious in 2010, when Romo was injured and Kitna started nine games. He provided competent veteran quarterback play and kept the offense functional, which is meaningful value from a player acquired in exchange for an aging cornerback.
Detroit Lions Return
Henry gave Detroit an experienced defensive back and started during the 2009 season, but the return did not last. His role diminished, he was benched, and Detroit did not build a longer-term piece from the exchange. That limited tenure makes the Lions' side look weak compared with the emergency quarterback value Kitna later supplied Dallas.
Value in Hindsight
Backup quarterbacks can look unimportant until they are needed. Kitna eventually became a nine-game starter after Romo's injury, turning an insurance acquisition into a significant practical asset. Henry gave Detroit some immediate service but not comparable durability or leverage. The Cowboys did not land a star, yet they clearly got more useful football from the swap.
Final Verdict
The final call is Dallas Cowboys Win. Dallas Cowboys receives a B grade and Detroit Lions receives a D+ grade. The grades focus on post-transaction value, role, longevity, and the scale of the assets exchanged. Because this was a relatively small historical transaction, the evaluation stays proportional rather than treating ordinary roster value like a franchise-changing blockbuster. The better grade goes to the club that received the more useful football return after the move.