Buffalo moved up eight spots for Reggie Ragland, sending…
Buffalo moved up eight spots for Reggie Ragland, sending Chicago No. 49, No. 117 and a 2017 fourth-rounder. Ragland tore his ACL before his rookie season and was traded to Kansas City a year later. Chicago repeatedly moved the acquired picks, with the return helping produce Cody Whitehair, Deon Bush, Nick Kwiatkoski and Eddie Jackson. That depth of value overwhelms Buffalo's brief ownership of Ragland.
Buffalo Bills Received
- pick 2016 2nd round pick (41st overall, Reggie Ragland )
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 2016 2nd round pick (49th overall subsequently traded, Jarran Reed), 2016 4th round pick (117th overall subsequently traded, Pharoh Cooper) and 2017 4th round pick (117th overall subsequently traded, Josh Reynolds)
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Buffalo traded picks No. 49 and No. 117 in 2016 plus a 2017 fourth-rounder to Chicago for No. 41, where the Bills selected Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland. The Bears did not simply spend the return in place. They traded No. 49 to Seattle for No. 56 and No. 124, then used other pieces from the package in additional moves across the next two drafts.
Why Chicago Won
Ragland never played a regular-season snap for Buffalo. A torn ACL ended his rookie season before it began, and the Bills traded him to Kansas City in August 2017 for a future fourth-round choice. Chicago's side became far more productive. The No. 49 trade yielded Cody Whitehair and Deon Bush. Pick No. 117 helped fund the move for Nick Kwiatkoski, and the 2017 fourth-rounder helped Chicago maneuver for Eddie Jackson. Those later moves required additional assets, so the entire careers of Kwiatkoski and Jackson cannot be credited solely to this deal, but the Ragland return supplied important capital.
How the Return Aged
Whitehair became a long-term offensive-line starter, Jackson developed into an All-Pro safety, and Bush and Kwiatkoski added useful depth and starts. Buffalo at least recovered something by moving Ragland rather than holding him, but the original decision to pay three picks for a player who never appeared for the Bills aged poorly.
Final Verdict
Chicago earns an A and Buffalo a D. The Bears converted one selection into a flexible pool of capital that helped stock multiple positions, while Buffalo's targeted player never reached the field for the team. Chicago Bears Win.