Buffalo sent the 42nd and 73rd picks to Chicago to move to…
Buffalo sent the 42nd and 73rd picks to Chicago to move to No. 26 in the 2006 draft for defensive tackle John McCargo. McCargo played only 44 career games, started once and never became the interior force Buffalo envisioned. Chicago used No. 42 on Danieal Manning, who became a versatile defensive back and elite returner, and No. 73 on Dusty Dvoracek, making the Bears' trade-down an emphatic win.
Buffalo Bills Received
- pick 2006 1st round pick (26th overall, John McCargo )
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 2006 2nd round pick (42nd overall, Danieal Manning)
- pick 2006 3rd round pick (73rd overall, Dusty Dvoracek)
Trade Analysis
Buffalo's 2006 first round became unusually aggressive. After selecting Donte Whitner at No. 8, the Bills traded their second-round pick at No. 42 and a third-rounder at No. 73 to Chicago for the 26th selection. The target was North Carolina State defensive tackle John McCargo, whose combination of size and athleticism appealed to a defense being rebuilt under Dick Jauron. The price made sense only if McCargo became a dependable starting interior lineman.
That never happened. McCargo battled injuries and struggled to secure a regular role, appearing in 40 games for Buffalo across five seasons and starting only once. His Bills tenure produced 2.5 sacks and limited impact against the run. Buffalo even attempted to trade him to Indianapolis in 2008, only for that separate transaction to be voided after he failed the Colts' physical. By the time McCargo left, the first-round investment had produced replacement-level rotational value rather than a core defender.
Chicago's return was much stronger. The Bears used No. 42 on Danieal Manning, who became a versatile defensive back, kickoff returner and special-teams weapon. Manning appeared in 77 regular-season games for Chicago, started 56, returned kicks at a high level and contributed to the 2006 team that reached Super Bowl XLI. The 73rd pick became defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek. Injuries limited Dvoracek badly, so the second selection did not add much, but Manning alone comfortably exceeded McCargo's contribution.
This is the kind of trade-up that hindsight punishes severely. Buffalo surrendered two top-75 choices for a player who never became a starter, while Chicago moved down and still found a multi-role contributor with substantial longevity. The Bills receive an F because both the premium paid and the outcome were poor. The Bears earn an A rather than A-plus because Dvoracek's career was derailed and Manning was a good, versatile starter rather than a perennial star. Even with that distinction, Chicago won the transaction by a wide margin.