New England acquired veteran nose tackle Ted Washington from…
New England acquired veteran nose tackle Ted Washington from Chicago in August 2003 for a 2004 fourth-round selection. Washington gave the Patriots the interior size they wanted for a championship run and contributed during the season that ended with a Super Bowl XXXVIII victory. Chicago converted an aging defender into future draft capital, but New England received the more immediate high-leverage football contribution.
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 2004 4th round pick (104th overall subsequently traded, Isaac Sopoaga )
New England Patriots Received
- player Ted Washington
Trade Analysis
Why New England Made the Move
The Patriots were assembling a veteran, flexible defense for a team with championship expectations, and Ted Washington fit that plan. At 365 pounds with four Pro Bowl selections already on his résumé, Washington gave Bill Belichick a true space-eating nose tackle who could occupy offensive linemen and let New England's linebackers work cleanly. The price was a future fourth-round pick rather than premium capital, making the risk manageable for a contender.
What Chicago Received
Chicago did not give Washington away. The Bears obtained a 2004 fourth-round choice, an appropriate return for a 35-year-old defensive tackle entering the later stage of his career. That selection became part of a later draft transaction, so Chicago retained flexibility instead of taking on another veteran. Still, the return was future value, while New England was buying help for the season directly in front of it.
How the Timing Changed the Value
This trade is best understood through timing. New England needed veteran interior strength immediately and went on to win Super Bowl XXXVIII. Washington did not have to become a long-term cornerstone for the deal to work; his role was to reinforce a defense built around experienced, interchangeable pieces. Chicago, meanwhile, was not positioned the same way and had more reason to convert an older player into draft capital.
Final Verdict
New England Patriots Win. Chicago's C reflects a defensible decision to collect a fourth-rounder, but the Patriots earn a B because they bought a proven interior defender at a modest price and used him during a championship season. The deal is a good example of a contender paying for immediate fit without surrendering a premium pick.
Washington's immediate role in a Super Bowl championship defense gave New England more direct value than Chicago ultimately realized from the future fourth-round asset.