Chicago Bears–Miami Dolphins Trade History

Miami sent Dave McCurry to Chicago for a 1974 ninth-round selection and used the pick on offensive tackle Tom Wickert. Wickert appeared in 13 games with three starts for the Dolphins as a rookie, giving Miami tangible line depth from a very late choice. McCurry did not make a Bears regular-season contribution after the trade, creating a clear difference in direct team-specific production.

Miami traded receiver Charlie Wade to Chicago in August 1974 for a 1975 tenth-round pick that became running back Clyde Russell. Russell was drafted by Miami but did not play a regular-season NFL game. Wade immediately became a Bears starter, catching 39 passes for 683 yards and a touchdown in 1974, making Chicago the clear beneficiary of the exchange.

Chicago acquired wide receiver Bo Rather from Miami on September 10, 1974 for the Bears' 1977 third-round pick, later No. 71. Rather immediately contributed 29 catches, 400 yards and three touchdowns for Chicago in 1974 and remained a starter in 1975. Miami eventually used the pick on Mike Watson, who did not play a regular-season game for the Dolphins.

Miami and Chicago exchanged late 1976 draft positions, with Miami receiving the No. 98 selection used on Mel Mitchell plus a 1977 fifth-round choice. Chicago received the No. 108 selection used on Wayne Rhodes and the No. 134 slot tied to Sanders Shiver. The documented direct player outcomes were modest, and the later provenance of Miami's 1977 pick remains disputed.

Miami completed a long-running Bo Rather compensation chain on draft day in 1977, sending Chicago the fourth-round pick at No. 110 and returning the fifth-round pick at No. 126 for Chicago's third-rounder at No. 71. Miami used No. 71 on Mike Watson, who never appeared in an NFL regular-season game, while Chicago immediately used No. 110 in the Mike Phipps trade.

Miami moved up to No. 25 in the 1989 draft and selected safety Louis Oliver, sending Chicago picks No. 36 and No. 65. Oliver became a long-term Dolphins starter and ballhawk, while the Bears turned their two selections into linebacker John Roper and center Jerry Fontenot, with Fontenot becoming a durable multi-year starter. Both teams extracted substantial value from the swap.

Miami sent linebacker Eric Kumerow to Chicago for cornerback Vestee Jackson on January 31, 1991. Jackson became a useful piece of the Dolphins secondary, starting 26 games across three Miami seasons and intercepting three passes in 1992, including a touchdown return. Kumerow never played a regular-season game for Chicago after an Achilles injury, giving Miami the better realized return.

Miami traded second- and third-round picks in the 1995 draft to Chicago for veteran defensive end Trace Armstrong. Armstrong became a durable Dolphins pass rusher and remained productive for multiple seasons. Chicago converted the draft return into additional young assets, but Miami received sustained production at a premium defensive position without surrendering a first-round selection.

Miami traded punter Brent Bartholomew to Chicago for the 232nd pick, which the Dolphins used on cornerback Jeff Harris. Harris never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. Bartholomew had only a brief career, but he did play seven games for Chicago in 2000 after the trade. With limited value on both sides, the Bears get a small edge for receiving actual regular-season production.

Miami acquired tight end Alonzo Mayes from Chicago for a 2001 seventh-round pick. Mayes had already shown some NFL receiving ability and appeared in 37 career games, while the Bears used the 208th pick on sprinter John Capel, who never played an NFL regular-season game. Mayes did not become a major Dolphins piece, but Miami received the only established professional football value in the exchange.

Miami acquired quarterback Cade McNown and a 2002 seventh-round pick from Chicago, while the Bears received a 2002 sixth-rounder and a conditional 2003 pick that ultimately became a sixth-round selection. McNown never appeared in another NFL regular-season game after the trade. Chicago used the 2002 pick on Adrian Peterson, who played 106 career games and rushed for 1,283 yards, giving the Bears a decisive long-term advantage.

Miami traded Pro Bowl pass rusher Adewale Ogunleye to Chicago for receiver Marty Booker and a 2005 third-round pick that became linebacker Channing Crowder. Ogunleye gave the Bears several productive seasons, while Booker supplied Miami with receiving help and Crowder became a long-term defensive starter. Both teams received legitimate contributors, but the extra value from Crowder gives Miami a narrow hindsight advantage.

Miami sent special-teams standout Brendon Ayanbadejo to Chicago for tight end John Owens and a conditional pick that became the 233rd selection in 2006, used on Devin Aromashodu. Owens made little impact and Aromashodu did not become a meaningful Dolphin. Ayanbadejo became an elite Bears special teamer and earned Pro Bowl recognition, giving Chicago a decisive win despite Miami receiving two assets.

Chicago acquired Brandon Marshall from Miami for third-round picks in 2012 and 2013, reuniting the receiver with Jay Cutler. Marshall immediately became the Bears' primary passing-game weapon and produced three productive seasons, including a 1,508-yard debut campaign in Chicago. Miami converted the picks into additional draft capital but never received a player of comparable impact. The modest acquisition cost and Marshall's elite production give Chicago a decisive win.

Chicago Bears received 2021 6th round pick (208th overall subsequently traded, Stone Forsythe) from Miami Dolphins, giving up Adam Shaheen. The conditional choice improved to a sixth-rounder and became No. 208. The return supports a C+ grade because the value directly tied to this deal fits that mark. The final verdict is Miami Dolphins Win.

Chicago acquired receiver and return specialist Jakeem Grant from Miami for a 2023 sixth-round pick. Grant gave the Bears an immediate return-game and offensive option for the remainder of the 2021 season, but his stay was brief. Miami later moved the No. 178 selection in another transaction, and the downstream path did not create enough value to establish a clear advantage.

Miami moved veteran guard Dan Feeney to Chicago for a 2024 sixth-round pick and turned that choice into wide receiver Malik Washington at No. 184. Washington produced 72 catches for 540 yards through his first two seasons while also becoming a significant return specialist. Feeney gave Chicago veteran line depth in 2023, but Miami converted a surplus player into a younger multi-year contributor.

Chicago traded Chase Claypool and its 2025 seventh-round pick to Miami on October 6, 2023 for the Dolphins' 2025 sixth-rounder. The sixth became No. 192, which the Bears later sent to Cleveland for defensive tackle Chris Williams and pick No. 240. Williams played 31 regular-season games for Chicago across 2024-25 with four sacks, while No. 240 later remained part of a larger 2025 draft trade with Buffalo. Chicago therefore recovered useful multi-year defensive value after moving on from Claypool.