During the 1971 offseason, because Duane Thomas was going through a contract dispute (he requested that his 3-year contract be rewritten) and refused to report to training camp, the Cowboys traded him to the New England Patriots alongside Hagen and Honor Jackson, in exchange for Carl Garrett and the Patriots number one draft choice in the 1972 NFL draft.
Within a week, because of problems with the Patriots and head coach John Mazur, in an unprecedented move, the NFL commissioner voided part of the trade, sending Thomas and Garrett back to their original teams.
On April 19, 1972, he was traded along with Jim Cheyunski and Mike Montler to the Buffalo Bills, in exchange for Wayne Patrick, Edgar Chandler and Jeff Lyman.
On April 9, 1976, he was traded to the San Diego Chargers in exchange for a ninth-round draft choice (#241-Jeff Turner).
On August 10, he was traded to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for an undisclosed draft choice (not exercised).