The Giants reacquired veteran guard Darrell Dess and kept him…
The Giants reacquired veteran guard Darrell Dess and kept him through the end of his playing career. New York received the most stable single asset in the trade: an experienced lineman who returned to a familiar role and remained with the club. That durability gives the Giants the stronger hindsight return.
New York Giants Received
- player Darrell Dess
Washington Commanders Received
- player Steve Thurlow
- player Jim Carroll
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
The Giants sent Steve Thurlow and Jim Carroll to Washington in 1966 to reacquire veteran guard Darrell Dess. This was not a trade where one side received nothing: Washington got two players who remained in the organization, while New York brought back an experienced lineman. The distinction comes from role stability and the amount of dependable service each return produced.
New York Giants Return
Dess returned to New York and remained with the Giants through the end of his playing career. For a team reacquiring a veteran guard, that is a successful direct outcome: the Giants received an experienced lineman who fit back into the roster and gave them continuing service rather than a brief stop or speculative asset.
Washington Commanders Return
Washington received two usable players. Thurlow appeared in 24 games with 15 starts for Washington and, in 1966 alone, produced 418 scrimmage yards over 12 games. Carroll also remained with Washington through 1968, adding depth beyond the first season. The package therefore had legitimate value, even though it did not produce a single return as established as Dess.
Value in Hindsight
Washington's two-player return was useful enough to keep the grade respectable, but the Giants achieved the cleaner objective: reacquiring a veteran starter who remained with them through the end of his career. Thurlow and Carroll supplied service, yet New York's return was more stable and easier to connect to a sustained role.
Final Verdict
The Giants win, B to C+. Dess gave New York the more durable and established return, while Washington received meaningful but less consequential service from Thurlow and Carroll. The grades now match the verdict instead of contradicting it.