Chicago Bears received 2018 2nd round pick (51st overall,…
Chicago Bears received 2018 2nd round pick (51st overall, Anthony Miller) in the 2018-04-27 exchange with New England Patriots. Anthony Miller became a useful receiving option in Chicago, but he never developed into the kind of long-term difference-maker that would erase the cost of moving both a current fourth-rounder and a future second-rounder. The direct return and the football value it produced drive the hindsight judgment. Against the assets Chicago Bears surrendered, the result supports New England Patriots Win and a C grade for Chicago Bears.
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 2018 2nd round pick (51st overall, Anthony Miller )
New England Patriots Received
- pick 2018 4th round pick (105th overall; subsequently traded by New England)
- pick 2019 2nd round pick (56th overall; subsequently traded by New England)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 2018-04-27, Chicago Bears received 2018 2nd round pick (51st overall, Anthony Miller), while New England Patriots received 2018 4th round pick (105th overall; subsequently traded by New England); 2019 2nd round pick (56th overall; subsequently traded by New England). The comparison is limited to the consideration controlled directly after the transaction. Later trades involving an acquired pick or player are separate moves, so they are used only to explain provenance when necessary and are not treated as extra compensation here.
Chicago Bears Return
Anthony Miller became a useful receiving option in Chicago, but he never developed into the kind of long-term difference-maker that would erase the cost of moving both a current fourth-rounder and a future second-rounder. The key question is how much useful football value the incoming side actually created through starts, playing time, production, roster longevity, or retained draft capital. That practical return is weighed against what Chicago Bears gave up, with the scale of this transaction kept in proportion.
New England Patriots Return
New England received two draft assets across two classes. The direct return carried more flexibility and long-term value than Chicago's single player. The same standard applies to New England Patriots. A larger number of pieces does not automatically mean a better trade; the quality and durability of the return matter more than raw asset count. That keeps the evaluation centered on realized value rather than on the appearance of the package at the moment of the deal.
Value in Hindsight
Chicago moved No. 105 and its 2019 second-round pick to New England for No. 51 Anthony Miller. The direct package is fully verified. Miller supplied useful but non-star Bears production, while New England preserved materially stronger draft-capital value by moving the acquired selections onward. This is a Patriots-side win, not IE. The direct exchange is sufficiently documented to make a firm hindsight judgment. The grades reflect the difference between what each side received and what those assets ultimately became for the clubs, while avoiding credit for unrelated transactions that occurred later.
Final Verdict
Chicago Bears receives a C and New England Patriots receives a B-. The verdict is New England Patriots Win. This result reflects the direct package, the value each team actually realized, and the modest or substantial separation created by those outcomes.