Pittsburgh sent veteran receiver Ron Shanklin to Chicago for…
Pittsburgh sent veteran receiver Ron Shanklin to Chicago for a 1976 second-round choice and a 1977 fourth-round choice. The Steelers used those selections on tackle Ray Pinney and running back Laverne Smith. Pinney became the prize, playing 125 games with 82 starts and starting in a Super Bowl victory, giving Pittsburgh a decisive long-term return.
Chicago Bears Received
- player Ron Shanklin
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- pick 1976 second round pick (#37-Ray Pinney)
- pick 1977 fourth round pick (#99-Laverne Smith)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Pittsburgh traded wide receiver Ron Shanklin to Chicago on August 25, 1975, for two future choices: a 1976 second-rounder and a 1977 fourth-rounder. Steelers historical records identify those selections as No. 37 Ray Pinney and No. 99 Laverne Smith. The package gave Pittsburgh two opportunities to turn a veteran receiver into younger roster pieces.
What Chicago Received
The Bears acquired a proven receiver, but the move did not create a lasting Chicago payoff large enough to justify the future capital. Shanklin was near the end of his NFL career, and Chicago did not obtain multiple seasons of high-level production from him. The acquisition made sense as a veteran addition, yet the timing limited the upside.
What Pittsburgh Received
Pinney made the trade. The tackle played 125 NFL games and started 82, spending the large majority of that career with Pittsburgh. By 1978 he was starting regularly, including a start in Super Bowl XIII. He later returned for a second Steelers stint and continued to provide line value into the 1980s. Smith’s contribution was much smaller, but he still appeared in seven games as a 1977 rookie and handled kick returns.
Why Pittsburgh Gets the Edge
A second-round pick becoming a long-term starting tackle is precisely the kind of result that can swing a veteran-for-picks trade. Chicago received a short-window player; Pittsburgh received years of offensive-line service from Pinney and an additional prospect in Smith. The gap in realized value is substantial.
Final Verdict
Pittsburgh receives an A- and Chicago a C-. Pinney’s longevity and starter-level contribution make the Steelers the clear winner, while the Bears did not receive enough from Shanklin to match the two-pick cost.