The
NFL draft, officially known as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting",[5][6][7] is an annual event which serves as the league's most common source of player recruitment.[8] The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings; the teams with the worst win–loss records receive the earliest picks. Teams that qualified for the
NFL playoffs select after non-qualifiers, and their order depends on how far they advanced, using their regular season record as a tie-breaker. The final two selections in the first round are reserved for the
Super Bowl runner-up and champion. Draft picks are
tradable and players or other picks can be acquired with them.[9]
^
abDallas traded tackle
Paul Dickson and their 1962 first-round selection (No. 4 overall) to the
Cleveland Browns in exchange for their 1961 first-round selection (No. 13 overall).[30][31]
^Dallas traded their 1967 first-, second-, and two fifth-round selections (Nos. 23, 49, 119, and 127 overall) to the
Houston Oilers for the rights to tackle
Ralph Neely.[32][33]
^Dallas traded defensive end
Tody Smith and wide receiver
Billy Parks to the
Houston Oilers in exchange for their 1974 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 1 and 53 overall).[34]
^Dallas traded quarterback
Craig Morton to the
New York Giants in exchange for their 1975 first-round selection (No. 2 overall) and 1976 second-round selection (No. 40 overall).[35][36]
^
abDallas traded their 1977 first-round selection (No. 24 overall) and quarterback
Clint Longley to the
San Diego Chargers in exchange for their 1977 first- and second-round selections (Nos. 14 and 41 overall).[37]
^Dallas traded a 1977 first- and three second-round selections (Nos. 14, 30, 41, and 54)[F] to the
Seattle Seahawks in exchange for their 1977 first-round selection (No. 2 overall).[38]
^Dallas traded their 1980 first- and second-round selections (Nos. 24 and 51 overall) to the
Baltimore Colts in exchange for defensive lineman
John Dutton.[39][40]
^Dallas traded their 1986 first- and fifth-round selections (Nos. 20 and 131 overall) to the
San Francisco 49ers in exchange for their 1986 first-round selection (No. 18 overall).[41][42]
^
abcdefIn what is now referred to as the
Herschel Walker trade, Dallas traded 1990 third-, fifth-, and tenth-round selections (Nos. 54, 116, and 249 overall), a 1991 third-round selection (No. 68 overall), and running back
Herschel Walker to the
Minnesota Vikings in exchange for their 1990 first-, second-, and sixth-round selections (Nos. 21, 47, and 158 overall), 1991 first- and second-round selections (Nos. 11 and 38 overall), 1992 first-, second-, and third-round selections (Nos. 13, 37, and 71 overall), and four players (linebacker
Jesse Solomon, linebacker
David Howard, cornerback
Issiac Holt, and defensive end
Alex Stewart).[44][45]
^Dallas traded a 1990 first- and third-round selection (No. 21, received from
Minnesota Vikings, and 81 overall)[J] to the
Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for their 1990 first-round selection (No. 17 overall).[46]
^
abDallas traded quarterback
Steve Walsh to the
New Orleans Saints in exchange for their 1991 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 14 and 70 overall) and 1992 second-round selection (No. 52 overall).[47][48]
^
abDallas traded a 1991 first-round selection (No. 14 overall, received from
New Orleans Saints)[M] to the
New England Patriots in exchange for a 1991 first- and fourth-round selection (Nos. 17 and 110 overall).[49]
^Dallas traded a 1991 first-round selection (No. 17 overall, received from
New England Patriots)[N] to the
Washington Redskins in exchange for their 1991 first- and fifth-round selections (Nos. 20 and 132 overall).[49]
^
abDallas traded a 1992 first- (received from
Minnesota Vikings)[J] and third-round selection (Nos. 13 and 71 overall) to the
New England Patriots in exchange for their 1992 first-, second-, and fourth-round selections (Nos. 19, 37, and 104 overall).[50]
^Dallas traded a 1992 first- (received from
New England Patriots)[P] and fourth-round selection (Nos. 19 and 104 overall) to the
Atlanta Falcons in exchange for their 1992 first- and fifth-round selections (Nos. 17 and 120 overall).[39]
^Dallas traded their 1993 first- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 29 and 112 overall) to the
Green Bay Packers in exchange for both of their 1993 second-round selections, as well as a fourth- and eight-round selection (Nos. 46, 54, 94, and 213 overall).[49]
^Dallas traded their 1994 first- and second-round selections (Nos. 28 and 62 overall) to the
San Francisco 49ers in exchange for their 1994 first- and seventh-round selections (Nos. 23 and 217 overall).[51]
^Dallas traded their 1995 first-round selection (No. 28 overall) to the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for two 1995 second-round selections (Nos. 41 and 63 overall).[52]
^Dallas traded their 1996 first-round selection (No. 30 overall) to the
Washington Redskins in exchange for their 1996 second- and third-round selections (Nos. 37 and 67 overall).[53]
^Dallas traded their 1997 first- and fifth-round selections (Nos. 25 and 155 overall) and 1998 third-round selection (No. 70 overall) to the
Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for their 1997 first-round selection (No. 22 overall).[54]
^Dallas traded their 1999 first- and fifth-round selections (Nos. 22 and 140 overall) to the
Seattle Seahawks in exchange for their 1999 first-round selection (No. 20 overall).[55]
^
abDallas traded their 2000 first-round selection (No. 19 overall) and 2001 first-round selection (No. 7 overall) to the
Seattle Seahawks in exchange for wide receiver
Joey Galloway.[56]
^Dallas traded their 2002 first-round selection (No. 6 overall) to the
Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for their 2002 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 8 and 75 overall) and 2003 sixth-round selections (No. 186 overall).[57]
^
abDallas traded their 2004 first-round selection (No. 22 overall) to the
Buffalo Bills in exchange for their 2004 second- and fifth-round selections (Nos. 43 and 144 overall) and 2005 first-round selection (No. 20 overall).[58]
^
abcDallas traded their 2007 first-round selection (No. 22 overall) to the
Cleveland Browns in exchange for their 2007 second-round selection (No. 36 overall) and 2008 first-round selection (No. 22 overall).[59]
^Dallas traded a 2007 second- (received from Cleveland),[AA] third-, and fifth-round selection (Nos. 36, 87, and 159 overall) to the
Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for their 2007 first-round selection (No. 26 overall).[59]
^Dallas traded their 2008 first-, fifth-, and seventh-round selections (Nos. 28, 163, and 235 overall) to the
Seattle Seahawks in exchange for their 2008 first-round selection (No. 25 overall).[60]
^Dallas traded their 2009 first-, third-, and sixth-round selections (Nos. 20, 82, and 192 overall) to the
Detroit Lions in exchange for their 2009 seventh-round selection (No. 210 overall) and wide receiver
Roy Williams.[61]
^Dallas traded their 2010 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 27 and 90 overall) to the
New England Patriots in exchange for their 2010 first- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 24 and 119 overall).[62]
^Dallas traded their 2012 first- and second-round selections (Nos. 14 and 45 overall) to the
St. Louis Rams in exchange for their 2012 first-round selection (No. 6 overall).[63]
^Dallas traded their 2013 first-round selection (No. 18 overall) to the
San Francisco 49ers in exchange for their 2013 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 31 and 74 overall).[64]
^Dallas traded their 2019 first-round selection (No. 27 overall) to the
Oakland Raiders in exchange for wide receiver
Amari Cooper.[65]
^Dallas traded their 2021 first-round selection (No. 10 overall) to the
Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for their 2021 first- and third-round selections (Nos. 12 and 84 overall).[66]