The 1989 Herschel Walker trade: Minnesota acquired Walker for five players and eight conditional picks; Dallas parlayed the picks into Emmitt Smith, Russell Maryland, Darren Woodson, Kevin Smith and others, building a 1990s dynasty.
7 trades59 assets34 custody links
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Custody graph
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Pick became Eric Green (1990 1st-round pick No. 21 (originally MIN)). trace in graph
Pick became Emmitt Smith (1990 1st-round pick No. 17 (originally PIT)). trace in graph
Pick became Pat Newman (1990 10th-round pick No. 249 (originally DAL)). trace in graph
Pick became Myron Jones (1990 11th-round pick No. 304 (originally SF)). trace in graph
Pick became Dennis Brown (1990 2nd-round pick No. 47 (originally MIN)). trace in graph
Pick became Mike Jones (1990 3rd-round pick No. 54 (originally DAL)). trace in graph
Pick became Craig Veasey (1990 3rd-round pick No. 81 (originally SF)). trace in graph
Pick became Ron Lewis (1990 3rd-round pick No. 68 (originally UNK)). trace in graph
Pick became Reggie Thornton (1990 5th-round pick No. 116 (originally SD)). trace in graph
Pick became James Williams (1990 6th-round pick No. 158 (originally MIN)). trace in graph
Pick became Pat Harlow (1991 1st-round pick No. 11 (originally MIN)). trace in graph
Pick became Russell Maryland (1991 1st-round pick No. 1 (originally NE)). trace in graph
Pick became Jerome Henderson (1991 2nd-round pick No. 41 (originally DAL)). trace in graph
Pick became Darryll Lewis (1991 2nd-round pick No. 38 (originally MIN)). trace in graph
Pick became Jake Reed (1991 3rd-round pick No. 68 (originally DAL)). trace in graph
Pick became Tony Smith (1992 1st-round pick No. 19 (originally ATL)). trace in graph
Pick became Eugene Chung (1992 1st-round pick No. 13 (originally MIN)). trace in graph
Pick became Kevin Smith (1992 1st-round pick No. 17 (originally UNK)). trace in graph
Pick became Matt Blundin (1992 2nd-round pick No. 40 (originally MIN)). trace in graph
Pick became Darren Woodson (1992 2nd-round pick No. 37 (originally UNK)). trace in graph
Pick became Kevin Turner (1992 3rd-round pick No. 71 (originally MIN)). trace in graph
Pick became Frankie Smith (1992 4th-round pick No. 104 (originally ATL)). trace in graph
Pick became Tim Roberts (1992 5th-round pick No. 136 (originally DAL)). trace in graph
Pick became Greg Briggs (1992 5th-round pick No. 120 (originally UNK)). trace in graph
Trades
1989-10-12
DALMINSD
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DAL
Sent1990 10th-round pick No. 249 (originally DAL) — became Pat Newman, 1990 3rd-round pick No. 54 (originally DAL) — became Mike Jones, 1991 3rd-round pick No. 68 (originally DAL) — became Jake Reed, Herschel Walker (RB)
Received1990 1st-round pick No. 21 (originally MIN) — became Eric Green (unverified), 1990 2nd-round pick No. 47 (originally MIN) — became Dennis Brown (unverified), 1990 6th-round pick No. 158 (originally MIN) — became James Williams (unverified), 1991 1st-round pick No. 11 (originally MIN) — became Pat Harlow (unverified), 1991 2nd-round pick No. 38 (originally MIN) — became Darryll Lewis (unverified), 1992 1st-round pick No. 13 (originally MIN) — became Eugene Chung (unverified), 1992 2nd-round pick No. 40 (originally MIN) — became Matt Blundin (unverified), 1992 3rd-round pick No. 71 (originally MIN) — became Kevin Turner (unverified), Issiac Holt (CB), David Howard (LB), Jesse Solomon (LB), Alex Stewart (DE)
MIN
Sent1990 1st-round pick No. 21 (originally MIN) — became Eric Green (unverified), 1990 2nd-round pick No. 47 (originally MIN) — became Dennis Brown (unverified), 1990 6th-round pick No. 158 (originally MIN) — became James Williams (unverified), 1991 1st-round pick No. 11 (originally MIN) — became Pat Harlow (unverified), 1991 2nd-round pick No. 38 (originally MIN) — became Darryll Lewis (unverified), 1992 1st-round pick No. 13 (originally MIN) — became Eugene Chung (unverified), 1992 2nd-round pick No. 40 (originally MIN) — became Matt Blundin (unverified), 1992 3rd-round pick No. 71 (originally MIN) — became Kevin Turner (unverified), Issiac Holt (CB), David Howard (LB), Darrin Nelson (RB), Jesse Solomon (LB), Alex Stewart (DE)
Received1990 10th-round pick No. 249 (originally DAL) — became Pat Newman, 1990 3rd-round pick No. 54 (originally DAL) — became Mike Jones, 1990 5th-round pick No. 116 (originally SD) — became Reggie Thornton, 1991 3rd-round pick No. 68 (originally DAL) — became Jake Reed, Herschel Walker (RB)
Root trade (agreement date 1989-10-12; Pro Football Reference lists 1989-10-13). Minnesota acquires Herschel Walker plus Dallas's 1990 3rd (#54 Mike Jones), San Diego's 1990 5th (#116 Reggie Thornton), Dallas's 1990 10th (#249 Pat Newman) and Dallas's 1991 3rd (#68 Jake Reed). Dallas acquires Jesse Solomon, David Howard, Issiac Holt, Alex Stewart and eight conditional Minnesota picks. San Diego acquires Darrin Nelson (who refused to report to Dallas) for its 1990 5th. The eight Minnesota picks were conditional; sources agree on the realized picks/outcomes but conflict over which conditional trigger produced which pick.
Sent1990 2nd-round pick No. 47 (originally MIN) — became Dennis Brown (unverified), 1990 3rd-round pick No. 68 (originally UNK) — became Ron Lewis (unverified)
Received1990 11th-round pick No. 304 (originally SF) — became Myron Jones (unverified), 1990 3rd-round pick No. 81 (originally SF) — became Craig Veasey, Terrence Flagler (RB), Danny Stubbs (DE)
SF
Sent1990 11th-round pick No. 304 (originally SF) — became Myron Jones (unverified), 1990 3rd-round pick No. 81 (originally SF) — became Craig Veasey, Terrence Flagler (RB), Danny Stubbs (DE)
Received1990 2nd-round pick No. 47 (originally MIN) — became Dennis Brown (unverified), 1990 3rd-round pick No. 68 (originally UNK) — became Ron Lewis (unverified)
Dallas sends Minnesota's 1990 2nd (#47 Dennis Brown, from the Walker trade) and a 1990 3rd (#68 Ron Lewis) to San Francisco for Terrence Flagler, Danny Stubbs, San Francisco's 1990 3rd (#81) and 1990 11th (#304).
Sent1990 1st-round pick No. 21 (originally MIN) — became Eric Green (unverified), 1990 3rd-round pick No. 81 (originally SF) — became Craig Veasey
Received1990 1st-round pick No. 17 (originally PIT) — became Emmitt Smith
PIT
Sent1990 1st-round pick No. 17 (originally PIT) — became Emmitt Smith
Received1990 1st-round pick No. 21 (originally MIN) — became Eric Green (unverified), 1990 3rd-round pick No. 81 (originally SF) — became Craig Veasey
Draft day 1990: Dallas sends Minnesota's 1990 1st (#21 Eric Green, from the Walker trade) and San Francisco's 1990 3rd (#81 Craig Veasey, from the 1990-04-19 trade) to Pittsburgh for Pittsburgh's 1990 1st (#17 Emmitt Smith).
Sent1991 2nd-round pick No. 38 (originally MIN) — became Darryll Lewis (unverified), 1992 5th-round pick No. 136 (originally DAL) — became Tim Roberts
ReceivedAlonzo Highsmith (FB)
HOU
SentAlonzo Highsmith (FB)
Received1991 2nd-round pick No. 38 (originally MIN) — became Darryll Lewis (unverified), 1992 5th-round pick No. 136 (originally DAL) — became Tim Roberts
Dallas acquires Alonzo Highsmith from Houston for Minnesota's 1991 2nd (#38 Darryll Lewis, from the Walker trade) and Dallas's own 1992 5th (#136 Tim Roberts).
Sent1991 1st-round pick No. 11 (originally MIN) — became Pat Harlow (unverified), 1991 2nd-round pick No. 41 (originally DAL) — became Jerome Henderson, Ron Francis (CB), David Howard (LB), Eugene Lockhart (LB)
Received1991 1st-round pick No. 1 (originally NE) — became Russell Maryland
NE
Sent1991 1st-round pick No. 1 (originally NE) — became Russell Maryland
Received1991 1st-round pick No. 11 (originally MIN) — became Pat Harlow (unverified), 1991 2nd-round pick No. 41 (originally DAL) — became Jerome Henderson, Ron Francis (CB), David Howard (LB), Eugene Lockhart (LB)
Dallas acquires New England's 1991 1st (#1 Russell Maryland) for Minnesota's 1991 1st (#11 Pat Harlow, from the Walker trade), Dallas's 1991 2nd (#41 Jerome Henderson), Ron Francis, David Howard (re-traded from the Walker deal) and Eugene Lockhart. Date verified via the Dallas Cowboys 1999 media guide and David Howard's biography (PFR erroneously lists April 23, 1990).
Sent1992 1st-round pick No. 13 (originally MIN) — became Eugene Chung (unverified), 1992 3rd-round pick No. 71 (originally MIN) — became Kevin Turner (unverified)
Received1992 1st-round pick No. 19 (originally ATL) — became Tony Smith, 1992 2nd-round pick No. 37 (originally UNK) — became Darren Woodson (unverified), 1992 4th-round pick No. 104 (originally ATL) — became Frankie Smith
NE
Sent1992 1st-round pick No. 19 (originally ATL) — became Tony Smith, 1992 2nd-round pick No. 37 (originally UNK) — became Darren Woodson (unverified), 1992 4th-round pick No. 104 (originally ATL) — became Frankie Smith
Received1992 1st-round pick No. 13 (originally MIN) — became Eugene Chung (unverified), 1992 3rd-round pick No. 71 (originally MIN) — became Kevin Turner (unverified)
Draft day 1992: Dallas sends Minnesota's 1992 1st (#13 Eugene Chung) and 1992 3rd (#71 Kevin Turner, both from the Walker trade) to New England for Atlanta's 1992 1st (#19), a 1992 2nd (#37 Darren Woodson) and Atlanta's 1992 4th (#104). Dallas kept #37 (Woodson) and immediately re-traded #19 and #104 to Atlanta.
Sent1992 1st-round pick No. 17 (originally UNK) — became Kevin Smith (unverified), 1992 5th-round pick No. 120 (originally UNK) — became Greg Briggs (unverified)
Received1992 1st-round pick No. 19 (originally ATL) — became Tony Smith, 1992 4th-round pick No. 104 (originally ATL) — became Frankie Smith
DAL
Sent1992 1st-round pick No. 19 (originally ATL) — became Tony Smith, 1992 4th-round pick No. 104 (originally ATL) — became Frankie Smith
Received1992 1st-round pick No. 17 (originally UNK) — became Kevin Smith (unverified), 1992 5th-round pick No. 120 (originally UNK) — became Greg Briggs (unverified)
Draft day 1992: Dallas sends Atlanta's 1992 1st (#19 Tony Smith) and 1992 4th (#104 Frankie Smith) — acquired from New England earlier the same day — back to Atlanta for a 1992 1st (#17 Kevin Smith) and 1992 5th (#120 Greg Briggs).