Chicago traded down from pick No. 104 in the 2000 draft,…
Chicago traded down from pick No. 104 in the 2000 draft, sending the selection to the Rams for Nos. 125, 150 and 225. Los Angeles used No. 104 on tackle Kaulana Noa, while Chicago used No. 125 on defensive back Reggie Austin and retained two additional pieces of draft capital. The Bears created slightly more aggregate value and earn a C+ to C win.
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 2000 4th round pick (125th overall, Reggie Austin ), 2000 5th round pick (150th overall subsequently traded, John Milem ) and 2000 7th round pick (225th overall subsequently traded, Rashidi Barnes )
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick 2000 4th round pick (104th overall, Kaulana Noa )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
The 2000 draft-day exchange was a straightforward move up by the Rams and move down by the Bears. Los Angeles acquired the 104th overall choice, while Chicago received picks 125, 150 and 225. Team trade histories and the draft transaction ledger agree on the package, so there is no material uncertainty about the assets that changed hands.
Chicago Bears Return
Chicago traded down from pick No. 104 in the 2000 draft, sending the selection to the Rams for Nos. 125, 150 and 225. Los Angeles used No. 104 on tackle Kaulana Noa, while Chicago used No. 125 on defensive back Reggie Austin and retained two additional pieces of draft capital. The Bears created slightly more aggregate value and earn a C+ to C win.
Los Angeles Rams Return
The Rams moved up 21 spots in the fourth round for No. 104, paying picks No. 125, No. 150 and No. 225. Los Angeles used the acquired choice on Kaulana Noa. Chicago later selected Reggie Austin at 125 and had two more assets to deploy. The Rams did not get enough extra value from moving up to overcome the broader Chicago return, producing a narrow Bears win.
Value in Hindsight
This is a mild trade-down win rather than a major draft robbery. Chicago received more bites at the apple and extracted some NFL value from the first of those selections. Los Angeles got the player it wanted but did not create a clearly superior result. A one-step grade difference, C+ for the Bears and C for the Rams, matches the size of the advantage.
Final Verdict
The final call is Chicago Bears Win. Chicago Bears receives a C+ grade and Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams receives a C grade. The grades emphasize the assets that actually survived the transaction, the useful NFL production generated after the move, and the price each club paid. The result stays proportional to the size of the deal and does not turn a depth move or late-round asset into a franchise-changing event.