Pittsburgh moved from No. 50 to No. 39 in the 2001 second…
Pittsburgh moved from No. 50 to No. 39 in the 2001 second round and selected linebacker Kendrell Bell. New England received Nos. 50 and 112, then used both selections in subsequent trade-ups. Bell played 90 NFL games and recorded 20.5 sacks, giving Pittsburgh a substantial direct return. The Patriots created useful trade currency, but the Steelers receive the better grade for converting the deal immediately into a productive defensive starter.
New England Patriots Received
- pick 2001 2nd round pick (50th overall subsequently traded, Dominic Raiola )
- pick 2001 4th round pick (112th overall subsequently traded, Carlos Polk )
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- pick 2001 2nd round pick (39th overall, Kendrell Bell )
Trade Analysis
Why Pittsburgh Paid to Reach No. 39
Pittsburgh wanted linebacker Kendrell Bell and moved eleven spots to secure him, sending New England the 50th and 112th selections. Bell gave the Steelers immediate defensive value and ultimately played 90 NFL games with 20.5 sacks. For a team choosing in the middle of the second round, turning a move-up into a productive starting linebacker was a strong result even though injuries kept Bell from sustaining his best early form for a full career.
What New England Did With the Picks
The Patriots treated the return as trade currency rather than two fixed draft choices. The very next move sent No. 50 and a sixth-round pick to Detroit for No. 48, where New England selected Matt Light. The 112th choice was later packaged with No. 139 to move up for Kenyatta Jones. That means the value New England received cannot be judged by simply assigning Dominic Raiola and Carlos Polk to the Patriots; neither was actually selected by New England.
How the Value Balances Out
New England’s flexibility helped produce Light, a major success, but the Patriots had to add another asset in that separate transaction. Pittsburgh’s return was cleaner: one aggressive move produced Bell directly. His 90 games and 20.5 sacks represent meaningful realized value, while New England’s two picks became ingredients in later decisions with mixed outcomes beyond Light.
Final Verdict
Pittsburgh Steelers Win. The Steelers receive a B+ for landing a productive impact linebacker with a straightforward move-up. New England receives a B because the acquired draft capital remained useful and helped facilitate the Light trade, but the direct value of this specific exchange belongs slightly more clearly to Pittsburgh.