Denver acquired receiver Otto Stowe from Dallas on September…
Denver acquired receiver Otto Stowe from Dallas on September 5, 1974 for a 1976 third-round choice that became John Smith at No. 75. Stowe's Denver stay was brief: eight games, two catches, nine receiving yards and one touchdown in 1974. Dallas received valuable draft position in theory, but Smith did not produce an NFL career for the Cowboys after being selected with the acquired pick. That balance of realized value gives the edge to Denver Broncos.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- pick 1976 third round pick (#75-John Smith)
Denver Broncos Received
- player Otto Stowe
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Denver acquired receiver Otto Stowe from Dallas on September 5, 1974 for a 1976 third-round choice that became John Smith at No. 75. The exchange fit a common 1970s roster calculation: one club preferred an established player or immediate help, while the other accepted draft capital or a different asset path. The important hindsight question is not the nominal round alone, but what each team actually received once the move played out.
What Dallas Cowboys Received
Stowe's Denver stay was brief: eight games, two catches, nine receiving yards and one touchdown in 1974. For Dallas Cowboys, that outcome is the main measure of the return. Immediate playing time matters, but so do durability, starts, scoring, and whether the acquired asset remained useful beyond a short stop. The result gives Dallas Cowboys a D because the club's realized contribution must be judged against what it surrendered.
What Denver Broncos Received
Dallas received valuable draft position in theory, but Smith did not produce an NFL career for the Cowboys after being selected with the acquired pick. That gives Denver Broncos a different value profile from the other side. A draft choice only becomes valuable when it turns into useful football production, while a veteran's value depends on how much he actually contributes after the trade. On that basis, Denver Broncos earns a C.
Why the Verdict Lands Here
Because Denver at least received regular-season contribution from Stowe while Dallas realized no on-field return from the selection, the Broncos narrowly win a modest trade. The comparison therefore rests on direct, realized NFL value rather than the theoretical price of the assets on the day of the deal. Longevity and meaningful contribution carry more weight than a pick number by itself, and a short stay can still matter when the opposing return produces even less.
Final Verdict
Denver Broncos Win. Dallas Cowboys receives a D, while Denver Broncos receives a C. The grades reflect the confirmed package and the football contribution that followed for each franchise.