Why was Ryan Switzer traded by the Cowboys? NFL world split over former WR’s bizarre exit from Dallas
Now retired NFL wide receiver Ryan Switzer took to Twitter this week to express his feelings on an integral part of his career. It started with a Tweet that showed side-by-side photos of his college football days at the University of North Carolina and a photo of him playing with the Dallas Cowboys.
Switzer retweeted a post, saying that to this day he is still confused as to why he was traded. Here's what he Tweeted:
"Still confuses me why I was traded. I think I was top 5 in both PR & KR. Never did KR in college, didn’t have any pre season that year so I had to learn on the fly. Finished top 3. I asked all season why I wasn’t getting any offensive snaps. Never got any answers."
Still confuses me why I was traded. I think I was top 5 in both PR & KR. Never did KR in college, didn’t have any pre season that year so I had to learn on the fly. Finished top 3. I asked all season why I wasn’t getting any offensive snaps. Never got any answers. twitter.com/es3_09/status/…
Social media was split on the matter:
@Switz was confused when u got traded too. but you weren’t productive on those jet sweeps and you’re value was at a all time high. business move.
@DannyPhantom24 From the outside looking in I know you think what you just said makes sense. But that’s not even close to being a reason.
@Switz When we drafted you it was during my sister’s wedding. I got the notification in the middle of it and I was HYPED. Was so hurt when we traded you bro.
@Switz Living in North Carolina, I was excited when they drafted you. I was pissed when they traded you. I honestly don’t think they knew what to do with you besides use you as a gadget guy. You were much more than that.
Some, however, were less sympathetic:
@Switz Losers make excuses, winners find a way. If you were good, you wouldn’t have been on 4 different teams in 4 years.
@Switz Probably because you "asked ALL SEASON why I wasn't getting any offensive snaps". You ask once, and if there is no improvement you bring it up again at the end of the season, and that's it.
@Switz @PaulZeise I still remember when you lost a yard on this punt return https://t.co/DPOB2hkwmd
The Dallas Cowboys drafted Ryan Switzer in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of the University of North Carolina. After just one season, he was traded to the Oakland Raiders in 2018 but, was then traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers before the start of the 2018 season.
Dez Bryant also confused about Ryan Switzer trade
After posting about his short-lived stint with the Dallas Cowboys, his former teammate, wide receiver Dez Bryant, joined in on the conversation. Bryant said that he too was confused by the Cowboys' decision to trade Switzer:
"Switz it’s funny you posted this.. I was looking at your joint college highlight with Christian McCaffrey 1:30am in the morning thinking Switz was really like that… this is a crazy coincidence because I really was up watching your highlights.. but you know what the issues was."
Switz it’s funny you posted this.. I was looking at your joint college highlight with Christian mccaffrey 1:30am in the morning thinking Switz was really like that… this is a crazy coincidence because I really was up watching your highlights.. but you know what the issues was twitter.com/switz/status/1…
Bryant said that he was watching highlights from Ryan Switzer's playing days and that he reminded him of now San Francisco 49ers' Christian McCaffrey. It is a crazy coincidence that they were both thinking about the same thing at the same time.
Arguably the most interesting part of the Tweet was the ending: "But you know what the issues was." This insinuates that there was an issue behind closed doors that possibly led to the trade.
Switzer did end up making quite the mark with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a solid returner and occasional offensive weapon for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Injuries derailed his career and he announced his retirement from the NFL earlier in 2022.