Chicago moved up to the No. 8 pick in the 1976 draft and…
Chicago moved up to the No. 8 pick in the 1976 draft and selected tackle Dennis Lick, who became a multi-year starter for the Bears. That made the trade a productive move rather than a miss, but Detroit turned the exchanged selections into cornerback James Hunter and guard Russ Bolinger, producing two long-lasting NFL contributors from its side.
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 1976 first round pick (#8-Dennis Lick)
Detroit Lions Received
- pick 1976 first round pick (#10-James Hunter (a))
- pick 1976 third round pick (#68-Russ Bolinger)
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
Chicago moved to the No. 8 selection in the 1976 draft and used it on offensive tackle Dennis Lick. Detroit moved down to No. 10 and also acquired No. 68. The Lions selected cornerback James Hunter at 10 and guard Russ Bolinger at 68. All three players became legitimate NFL contributors, which makes the original low grades too severe for both clubs.
Why Detroit Gets the Edge
Hunter supplied the best single career from the package. He spent his entire NFL career with Detroit, started for years in the secondary and intercepted 27 passes. His rookie season immediately justified the investment, and he remained a significant defensive piece well beyond 1976. Bolinger added another layer of value: he played nine NFL seasons and became a regular starter, giving Detroit two useful players from the decision to move down only two spots.
How Chicago’s Return Held Up
Lick also became a good professional starter. He played 79 games, started most of them and gave the Bears several seasons of stability at tackle. That is a successful first-round result and deserves a strong grade. Chicago’s problem is not that Lick failed; it is that Detroit extracted two durable careers from the picks received, with Hunter providing the highest impact of the three players involved.
Final Verdict
Detroit earns an A- for turning a small move down the board into Hunter and Bolinger, two players who supplied substantial NFL value. Chicago receives a B+ because Lick was a durable starter and justified the club’s move up, even if he did not outperform the combined Lions return. Detroit wins on aggregate value, but this is another trade in which both teams made productive use of their draft positions.