Tampa Bay traded its 1983 first-round pick to Chicago for the…
Tampa Bay traded its 1983 first-round pick to Chicago for the 1982 second-round selection used on defensive end Booker Reese. Reese played only 24 games for the Buccaneers and 35 in his NFL career. Chicago later used Tampa Bay's No. 18 pick on Willie Gault, a productive receiver and member of the 1985 championship team. The Bears won overwhelmingly.
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 1983 first round pick (#18-Willie Gault)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Received
- pick 1982 second round pick (#32-Booker Reese)
Trade Analysis
Tampa Bay made an aggressive move during the 1982 draft, sending its 1983 first-round pick to Chicago for the Bears' second-round selection at No. 32. The Buccaneers used the acquired pick on defensive end Booker Reese. The structure was inherently risky because Tampa Bay gave up an unprotected future first for a second-round choice one year earlier.
The risk turned into a severe value loss. NFL statistics show Reese playing seven games as a rookie and 16 in 1983 for Tampa Bay, with two sacks across those seasons. He appeared in only one game for the Buccaneers in 1984 before finishing his career with the Rams. His entire NFL career lasted 35 games.
Chicago's future pick became No. 18 overall in 1983. The Bears used it on Tennessee receiver Willie Gault. Gault played five seasons in Chicago, started on the 1985 Super Bowl champion and remained a productive NFL receiver for more than a decade. NFL statistics credit him with 6,635 career receiving yards and 44 receiving touchdowns. The Bears received both premium draft position and a player who delivered sustained production.
The mismatch is substantial enough for an A+ on Chicago's side. The Bears surrendered a second-rounder and waited one year, then received a first-round pick that became a long-term starter. Tampa Bay paid first-round value for a player who never established himself. A D- reflects that Reese at least reached the field and produced some defensive snaps, but the trade's opportunity cost was enormous. Chicago is the clear winner.