Tampa Bay acquired safety Thomas Everett from Dallas on April…
Tampa Bay acquired safety Thomas Everett from Dallas on April 5, 1994, for the 109th pick in that year's draft. Everett gave the Buccaneers two seasons of veteran secondary play and started 10 games in 1995. Dallas used No. 109 on receiver Willie Jackson, but he did not become a meaningful long-term Cowboys contributor. Tampa Bay's direct on-field return gives it the edge.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- pick 1994 4th round pick (109th overall, Willie Jackson)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Received
- player Thomas Everett
Trade Analysis
Why the Deal Happened
Tampa Bay acquired Thomas Everett from Dallas for a fourth-round selection after the veteran had already built an accomplished career that included championship experience. Dallas was comfortable moving him and recapturing draft capital, while the Buccaneers wanted an experienced defensive back who could contribute immediately. The Cowboys used the acquired No. 109 choice on wide receiver Willie Jackson, creating a straightforward veteran-for-rookie comparison that becomes clearer when team-specific production is separated from later career totals.
What Each Team Received
Everett played for Tampa Bay in 1994 and 1995 and started 10 games during his second Buccaneers season. He brought proven secondary experience to a rebuilding roster. Jackson went on to play 113 NFL games and record substantial receiving totals over his career, but Dallas did not receive the benefit of most of that later production. The Cowboys' return therefore cannot be graded as if Jackson's work for Jacksonville, New Orleans and other clubs occurred in Dallas.
How the Value Developed
Dallas' decision was defensible because a fourth-round choice for an older defensive back is useful roster currency. The outcome simply favored Tampa Bay. Everett gave the Buccaneers immediate starts and legitimate defensive snaps, whereas the player selected with Dallas' pick did not become a comparable Cowboys contributor. This distinction is important in historical trade grading: career value matters, but only the value delivered while an asset belonged to the acquiring team should drive that team's result.
Final Verdict
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Win. Tampa Bay earns a B for obtaining a veteran who supplied two seasons of useful secondary play at a modest price. Dallas earns a C- because the fourth-round pick did not translate into sustained Cowboys production. Jackson's later NFL career keeps the selection from looking like poor scouting in the abstract, but it does not change the team-specific outcome of this exchange.