Revisiting the Cowboys-Buccaneers Trade Involving Keyshawn Johnson and Joey Galloway

Former Buccaneers WR Joey Golloway
Former Buccaneers WR Joey Golloway / Tim Umphrey/Getty Images

Superstar wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was traded for second-round draft pick, two fourth-round selections, and an oft-injured running back in David Johnson this offseason.

That's exactly what makes 2004's blockbuster deal between the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers so mesmerizing and rare: it was a straight-up swap that featured WRs Joey Galloway and Keyshawn Johnson.

Cowboys-Buccaneers Trade Details

Cowboys acquire: Keyshawn Johnson

Buccaneers acquire: Joey Galloway

The swap made sense in that Johnson endured a falling out with head coach Jon Gruden and Galloway was struggling to produce with Dallas. In terms of determining a winner and loser, there's not much to dive into here other than he production the two wideouts registered with their new teams, and how the Bucs and Cowboys fared with both players.

In five seasons with Tampa Bay, Galloway notched 248 receptions for 3,912 yards and 28 touchdowns. Putting aside the 2007 season, the Ohio State product remained healthy for Tampa Bay. During that span, the Buccaneers made two playoff appearances -- both resulting in Wild Card Round exits.

Johnson, meanwhile, spent just two seasons with the Cowboys. He compiled 141 receptions for 1,820 yards and 12 touchdowns. Dallas finished 17-17 and failed to qualify for the postseason in Johnson's two years with the team.

Who Won the Trade?

Johnson's seasonal averages were greater, but Galloway's five-year tenure paired with the Bucs' two playoff berths give Tampa the nod here. Let's also not forget that Dallas coughed up two-first round picks to Seattle to acquire Galloway in the first place. Tampa won this trade in a landslide, no questions asked.