Miami sent Dave McCurry to Chicago for a 1974 ninth-round…
Miami sent Dave McCurry to Chicago for a 1974 ninth-round selection and used the pick on offensive tackle Tom Wickert. Wickert played 13 games with three starts for the Dolphins as a rookie, while McCurry did not make a Bears regular-season contribution after the trade. Turning a player Chicago quickly released into usable line depth gives Miami the win.
Chicago Bears Received
- player Dave McCurry
Miami Dolphins Received
- pick 1974 ninth round pick (#212-Tom Wickert)
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
The August 10, 1973 transaction sent Dave McCurry from Miami to Chicago for a future ninth-round draft choice. Miami ultimately held the 1974 selection at No. 212 and used it on offensive tackle Tom Wickert. The package is a useful example of how very late draft capital can still matter when the acquired player reaches the field for the team that owns the pick.
Miami Return
Wickert immediately produced more direct value than might normally be expected from a ninth-round choice. League statistics list him in 13 games for the 1974 Dolphins with three starts along the offensive line. He did not become a long-term Miami starter, but those appearances gave the defending champions real depth from a selection acquired for a player they were willing to move. The return is modest in absolute terms, yet strong relative to the cost and the round of the pick.
Chicago Return
McCurry did not provide the Bears a regular-season payoff. His transaction history shows the move to Chicago followed by his release before the season, and his later NFL appearances came with New England rather than the Bears. Chicago therefore surrendered a future pick for a player who never produced regular-season value for the club. Because the pick was only a ninth-rounder, this was not a damaging loss of premium capital, but it was still an unsuccessful conversion.
Final Verdict
Miami wins clearly but on a small scale. Wickert's 13 games and three starts represent tangible Dolphins value, while McCurry's Bears tenure ended before a regular-season contribution. B- for Miami and C- for Chicago captures that difference without overstating the importance of a ninth-round selection or treating Wickert's later career with other clubs as part of Miami's return.