The 2000 Bears-Browns Seventh-Round Swap: A Low-Stakes Draft Shuffle
Chicago and Cleveland reshuffled five late seventh-round selections. The transaction produced little lasting NFL value on either side, making the margin between winner and loser extremely small.
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 2000 7th round pick (223rd overall, James Cotton), 2000 7th round pick (232nd overall subsequently traded, Jeff Harris ) and 2000 7th round pick (254th overall, Michael Green)
Cleveland Browns Received
- pick 2000 7th round pick (209th overall, Eric Chandler)
- pick 2000 7th round pick (225th overall, Rashidi Barnes )
Trade Summary
Chicago Bears received 2000 7th round pick (223rd overall, James Cotton), 2000 7th round pick (232nd overall subsequently traded, Jeff Harris) and 2000 7th round pick (254th overall, Michael Green). Cleveland Browns received 2000 7th round pick (209th overall, Eric Chandler) and 2000 7th round pick (225th overall, Rashidi Barnes). The final review favors Chicago Bears because that return produced stronger practical football value.
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
Chicago sent picks No. 209 and No. 225 to Cleveland and received Nos. 223, 232 and 254. The Browns used their selections on Eric Chandler and Rashidi Barnes. Chicago used No. 223 on James Cotton, later moved No. 232, and used the final pick of the draft on defensive back Michael Green.
Why This Trade Stayed Small
The transaction is a reminder that not every multi-pick deal becomes a major asset tree. These were all seventh-round selections, and none of the players tied directly to the exchange became a major long-term NFL starter. Barnes appeared in 14 games for Cleveland as a rookie. Cotton did not record regular-season game action for Chicago before continuing his professional career elsewhere.
Chicago did gain one additional selection, which is the basic reason its side can be graded slightly higher from a process standpoint. More late-round picks create more opportunities to find a roster player. But the realized difference was limited because the extra swing did not turn into a cornerstone.
The Long-Term Legacy
This page has value precisely because it shows the other end of the trade spectrum. Large databases can overstate the importance of a transaction when every pick is listed equally. In practice, a late seventh-round reshuffle should be judged with much less certainty than a trade involving premium selections or established starters.
Final Verdict
The Chicago Bears Win verdict should be read as a narrow edge, not a decisive victory. Chicago acquired three selections for two, but neither side generated enough lasting NFL value for this trade to carry a strong long-term winner.