Georgia running back Herschel Walker would have probably had a very different career had he gone straight to the NFL as opposed to the New Jersey Generals of the short-lived United States Football League in 1983. His talent was never a question—but his perceived value as a professional football player would enter the ranks of ridiculous.
As Tony Dorsett was nearing the end of his Hall of Fame career, Dallas opted to spend a fifth-round pick on Walker in the 1985 draft. Then-president and general manager Tex Shramm felt that the USFL was nearing its end—and he was right.
The following year Walker entered the NFL and suddenly it appeared that Dallas had the best running back duo in the league, and maybe it did. But leading up to the purchase of the franchise by Jones in 1989, Dallas failed to make the playoffs in any of the first three seasons in which Walker wore the blue star.
New head coach Jimmy Johnson knew Dallas needed not just talent, but young talent. As Walker was easily the most valuable player on the roster, Johnson still recognized him as a seven-year veteran of the pro ranks that wouldn't be so valuable in the near future. Johnson felt he could possibly move Walker for some goods.
Minnesota desperately wanted to reach the top of the NFC, by far the more dominant conference in the NFL. Feeling that it was only a great runner away from possibly passing teams like San Francisco, Chicago, New York Giants and Washington Redskins, the Vikings did the unthinkable.
Vikings general manager Mike Lynn offered a ton of resources for Walker. The meat and potatoes consisted of three first-round picks, three second-round picks, several other conditional picks and even players, a few of which were of short-term use.
Minnesota would reach the playoffs just once with Walker, only to get blown out 41-13 by San Francisco in the 1989 divisional playoffs—so much for that missing piece of the championship puzzle.
Well, by '92 the Cowboys had already transformed that trade into the best roster in the NFL and only the sad era of free agency and the salary cap prevented the Cowboys from owning most of a decade as opposed to only half of it.
Walker only rushed for 1,000 yards twice in the NFL, although his all-purpose yards generally put him well over that mark. His 84 total touchdowns are certainly impressive and there's no way to miss the talent possessed by the former Heisman Trophy winner.
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