Cleveland sent receiver Eppie Barney to Chicago in September…
Cleveland sent receiver Eppie Barney to Chicago in September 1969 for the Bears’ 1971 sixth-round choice. The Browns used pick No. 142 on tackle Doug Dieken, who became a 14-season Cleveland fixture and started a remarkable run of 194 consecutive games at left tackle. Barney’s NFL career ended after limited production. Turning a marginal veteran into one of the franchise’s longest-serving linemen makes Cleveland the decisive winner.
Chicago Bears Received
- player Eppie Barney
Cleveland Browns Received
- pick 1971 sixth round pick (#142-Doug Dieken)
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
Cleveland traded receiver Eppie Barney to Chicago on September 8, 1969 for a sixth-round choice in the 1971 draft. Draft histories trace the Bears’ pick to No. 142 overall, where the Browns selected Illinois tackle Doug Dieken. The package is simple, but the eventual career outcomes make the trade highly consequential.
Why Cleveland’s Sixth-Rounder Became Special
Dieken grew from a late-round selection into one of the most durable players in Browns history. He spent 14 seasons in Cleveland and became the club’s long-term left tackle. Accounts of his career highlight a streak of 194 consecutive games, a remarkable measure of reliability at a physically demanding position. That kind of sustained starting value is exceptionally rare from a sixth-round pick.
What Chicago Received
Barney had been a third-round Cleveland selection in 1967 but never developed into a major NFL receiving threat. His entire professional career totaled only 26 games and 19 receptions. Chicago therefore acquired a player with limited remaining value and did not receive a long-term starter in return for the future choice.
How the Hindsight Standard Applies
Late-round selections usually carry modest expected value, so Chicago’s cost did not look severe at the time. The outcome changed that calculation. Cleveland used the exact asset received in the trade to draft a player who anchored its offensive line for more than a decade. That is the kind of conversion that creates an outsized historical win.
Final Verdict
Cleveland wins decisively. Dieken’s 14-year career and extraordinary durability dwarf Barney’s limited Bears contribution. An A for the Browns reflects elite value extracted from a sixth-round choice, while a D for Chicago reflects the loss of that pick for a player who did not become a meaningful long-term contributor.