Reaction to Walker Trade: Good for Both Teams

The blockbuster trade that sent Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings last week in exchange for five players and a package of draft picks should be beneficial to both Minnesota and the Dallas Cowboys, according to a small sampling of representatives of several teams.

As word of the trade circulated throughout the National Football League on Thursday afternoon, the feeling was the Vikings picked up a player who can put them into immediate Super Bowl contention, while the winless Cowboys picked up several bodies that can stabilize the team the rest of the season.

Walker, 27, is in his fourth year in the NFL after having played three seasons in the U.S. Football League. In exchange for Walker the Vikings sent linebackers Jesse Solomon and David Howard, cornerback Issiac Holt, running back Darrin Nelson and defensive end Alex Stewart to Dallas. Of the five, only Stewart, a rookie, was not a regular.

Minnesota also sent Dallas a first-round draft choice in 1992, and six “conditional” draft choices over the next three years. The conditions were not disclosed.

“From an outsider’s view, I would think (Minnesota General Manager) Mike Lynn is a person who thinks the Vikings are very close to a Super Bowl,” said Bill Davis, the Philadelphia Eagles’ vice president of player personnel. “And if he brings someone in like Herschel Walker, the team could be in contention this year and the next three years.

“Herschel can do everything--he’s fast, he can block and he can catch. (Minnesota) can be good now, if they start playing up to their capabilities. Defensively, they already have outstanding talent.”

Tom Braatz, executive vice president of football operations for the Green Bay Packers, said the trade was “comparable” to the three-way deal between the Los Angeles Rams, the Buffalo Bills and the Indianapolis Colts that resulted in Eric Dickerson wearing a Colts uniform. Braatz called the trade “good for both ends.”

“The Vikings got an impressive running back and the Cowboys got some players and some picks,” said Braatz, whose team plays in the National Football Conference with the Vikings. “With an important player like Walker, it gives them an added dimension in their offense. I don’t know if one player can put them in the Super Bowl, but it was a good trade.”

George Young, general manager of the New York Giants, called the trade “mysterious and complicated” because terms were not clear on the conditional draft picks involved. But he described the deal as a good one for the Cowboys, who have been unimpressive this season.

“Dallas has people who will start for them and they feel the future lies in having more players then one superstar,” Young said. “For Dallas, one great player has not been making the team. They’re making an effort to get better. They’re trying to do something, and that’s better than just sitting on your hands.”

Erik Widmark, director of pro personnel for the Phoenix Cardinals, called the trade a “win-win” situation for both teams, but questioned why the Cowboys opted for players rather then draft picks that would help them in the future.

“It seems they were going to rebuild with choices, with this they just get one draft pick and the conditionals,” Widmark said. “I’m a little surprised that Dallas ended up taking players rather than picks. But they needed some help on defense and this apparently helps.”

Davis said a key to the trade was that Walker alone could not make Dallas a Super Bowl contender.

“They feel they can’t win the Super Bowl with Walker because they don’t have the talent around him,” Davis said. “When one of the young quarterbacks reaches his potential, Herschel may be retired. They’re committing to the long term. Apparently they want to build through the draft.”

Young said that, at this point, the draft choices mean nothing.

“They are just numbers and not names -- and until they become names its hard to evaluate it,” Young said. “Minnesota feels they needed a running back to get to the Super Bowl. Herschel is a very talented player, we’ll just have to see.”