The Raiders acquired cornerback Ron Fellows from Dallas for…
The Raiders acquired cornerback Ron Fellows from Dallas for wide receiver Rod Barksdale in August 1987. Fellows went on to appear in 26 games with 12 starts for the Raiders across the next two seasons, giving them a measurable defensive return. Barksdale's Dallas contribution was smaller, so the player-for-player swap leans modestly toward the Raiders in hindsight.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- player Rod Barksdale
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- player Ron Fellows
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Dallas traded Ron Fellows to the Raiders for Rod Barksdale on August 2, 1987. The deal was a direct swap with no draft capital attached, so the comparison rests on what the two players provided after changing teams. Contemporary reports and Dallas historical material align on the identities and timing, giving the transaction a clear basis for a simple value comparison.
Dallas Cowboys Return
Dallas received Barksdale as a receiver and depth option. He gave the Cowboys another player for the offensive rotation, but his contribution did not develop into a sustained advantage that matched what Fellows supplied to the Raiders. The Cowboys were not empty-handed, and the trade was defensible as a roster-fit move, yet the realized return remained on the smaller side.
Las Vegas Raiders Return
The Raiders received Fellows and got two seasons of measurable defensive service. He appeared in 26 games and made 12 starts across 1987 and 1988, which is significant enough to separate him from ordinary end-of-roster depth. Fellows was not a franchise-changing acquisition, but the Raiders turned the exchange into repeated lineup value and a clearer on-field contribution.
Value in Hindsight
The difference between the sides is practical rather than dramatic. Dallas received a useful player, but the Raiders obtained more games and starting exposure from Fellows. In a straight player swap, that sustained service matters because there is no hidden draft asset to balance the ledger later. The Raiders did not dominate the trade, but they realized the stronger and more durable football return.
Final Verdict
The Raiders earn a B- and the win, while Dallas receives a C. Fellows' 26 games and 12 starts provide the clearest value marker in the deal. Barksdale kept the Cowboys from coming away empty, but the post-trade results favor the Raiders by a noticeable, though still modest, margin.