Cowboys’ Jerry Proposes Two Trades Worse Than Doncic Disaster
FRISCO – While Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has faced steady criticism for three decades, the Dallas Mavericks are now engulfed in controversy.
The shocking trade of 25-year-old superstar Luka Doncic—who had just led his team to the NBA Finals—has enraged fans. Swapping Luka for an aging Anthony Davis and just one first-round pick appears senseless. Making matters worse, Mavs’ co-owner Patrick Dupont added fuel to the fire by suggesting Luka should work harder like “Shaq” rather than Dallas legend Dirk Nowitzki.
As if that weren’t enough, Davis suffered a serious injury in his first game and will be sidelined for at least a month, jeopardizing the Mavericks’ playoff hopes.
Fans expressing frustration were ejected from American Airlines Center on Monday night for holding signs that read “Fire Nico!”—a reference to general manager Nico Harrison. Just ten days after the trade, it is already regarded as the worst in Mavericks history.
While the Cowboys have had their share of brilliant trades—such as those involving Herschel Walker and Charles Haley, which helped secure three Super Bowls in the 1990s—Jones has also been responsible for some disastrous deals over the years.
The verdict is still out on the Cowboys’ 2023 trade for Trey Lance. The quarterback has yet to show potential as the team’s future leader, while the fourth-round pick Dallas gave up turned into safety Malik Mustapha, who started the final 12 games for the 49ers.
Last year, Dallas traded a fourth-round pick to the Carolina Panthers for receiver Jonathan Mingo, a move that already seems lopsided. Similarly, trading a first-round pick for Amari Cooper in 2018, only to send him to the Browns for a fifth-rounder in 2022, resulted in a major net loss.
When ranking the Cowboys’ worst trade—akin to the Mavericks’ Luka blunder—two deals stand out: Joey Galloway vs. Roy Williams.
In 2000, Jones desperately tried to salvage his fading 1990s dynasty. Emmitt Smith was a declining 31-year-old running back. Troy Aikman was one concussion away from retirement. Michael Irvin had just been forced to retire due to a neck injury.
Hoping to revive the offense, Jerry traded two first-round picks to Seattle for speedster Joey Galloway. The move backfired immediately.
Galloway tore his ACL in his first game, contributing to a 5-11 season that ended Aikman’s career. Over three seasons, Galloway managed just 2,279 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns before being traded to the Buccaneers in 2004 for Keyshawn Johnson.
One of the draft picks Dallas sent to Seattle became running back Shaun Alexander, who later set an NFL record for touchdowns in a season and won MVP.
To make matters worse, reports suggest Seattle was initially willing to accept just one first-rounder—until Jerry inexplicably offered two.
The 2008 trade for Williams, however, may have been even worse.
Attempting to provide weapons for rising quarterback Tony Romo, Jerry sent three picks—a first, third, and sixth—to the Lions for Williams. Adding to the misstep, Jones immediately signed him to a six-year, $54 million contract, frustrating Terrell Owens.
In two-plus seasons with Dallas, Williams never surpassed 600 receiving yards or caught more than seven touchdowns. He eventually lost his starting job to undrafted free agent Miles Austin and was cut unceremoniously in 2011.