Miami sent receiver Otto Stowe to Dallas and received Ron…
Miami sent receiver Otto Stowe to Dallas and received Ron Sellers plus the 1974 second-round pick used on Benny Malone. Sellers contributed only briefly for the Dolphins, but the premium draft choice gave Miami substantially more long-term asset value than Dallas received from Stowe's short 1973 stay. The second-round return keeps this as a clear Dolphins win.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- player Otto Stowe
Miami Dolphins Received
- player Ron Sellers
- pick 1974 second round pick (#47-Ben Malone / Benny Malone)
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
On May 10, 1973, Miami traded Otto Stowe to Dallas for receiver Ron Sellers and a 1974 second-round draft choice. The pick became No. 47 overall and was used on Benny Malone. Dallas historical material and draft-trade records agree on the core package, giving the transaction a much firmer foundation than the older shorthand descriptions that mentioned only a player exchange.
Miami Return
Sellers was not the reason Miami wins this deal. His Dolphins contribution was brief, including only two receptions for 54 yards in the 1973 regular season. The important asset was the second-round choice. A top-50 selection carried substantial roster-building value, and Miami converted it into Malone. Even without overstating Malone's career, receiving a premium draft pick alongside a veteran receiver gave the Dolphins multiple avenues to recover value after moving Stowe.
Dallas Return
Stowe did help the Cowboys in 1973. He caught 23 passes for 389 yards and six touchdowns before injury interrupted his season. That production matters and keeps Dallas from receiving a failing grade. The problem is duration and cost. Stowe's Dallas tenure was short, while the Cowboys surrendered both Sellers and a second-round selection. The immediate receiving production did not last long enough to outweigh that package.
Final Verdict
Miami wins on asset value and staying power. Dallas received a productive but short-lived 1973 contribution, while Miami received a veteran plus a premium second-round choice. A B for the Dolphins and C for the Cowboys recognizes that Stowe was useful, but not useful enough to justify the full price Dallas paid.