Jerry Jones’ aspirations of being recognized as a keen evaluator of football talent were dashed on April 24, 2004, in New York City when the Cowboys, holding the 22nd pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, opted to trade it to Buffalo. Dissatisfied with their options, Dallas exchanged their first-round pick for Buffalo’s second-round pick (43rd overall), fifth-round pick (114th), and a first-round pick for the following year (20th overall), which ultimately led to the acquisition of defensive end Marcus Spears in 2005.
However, the decision proved costly as the player overlooked at 22, Stephen Jackson from Oregon State, went on to have a stellar career spanning 12 years, accumulating impressive stats of 11,438 rushing yards, 69 rushing touchdowns, along with 3,683 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns. Jackson was selected by the St. Louis Rams at 24th overall and remains the franchise’s all-time leading rusher.
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Instead of Jackson, the Cowboys opted for Julius Jones from Notre Dame, who had a relatively modest tenure with Dallas, lasting four years and rushing for 3,484 yards and 18 touchdowns, with minimal receiving contributions. Jones’ career total barely surpassed 5,000 rushing yards, far less than Jackson’s output.
The draft continued to disappoint for Dallas as subsequent picks failed to make significant impacts. Guard Stephen Peterman from LSU, drafted in the third round, found success with the Detroit Lions after a brief stint with the Cowboys. Bruce Thornton, a fourth-round pick from Georgia, had a fleeting appearance with Dallas before becoming a starter for the San Francisco 49ers. Tight end Sean Ryan, acquired with the fifth-round pick, had a nondescript career.
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Overall, the decision to trade away the 22nd pick in the 2004 NFL Draft deprived the Cowboys of a potential standout player in Stephen Jackson, ultimately reflecting poorly on Jerry Jones’ ability to discern talent.
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