Washington purchased defensive back Bob Wade from Pittsburgh…
Washington purchased defensive back Bob Wade from Pittsburgh on August 28, 1969. Wade appeared in 13 games for Washington that season, while the Steelers received cash rather than a football asset that can be traced forward. The contribution was modest and short-lived, but Washington did receive usable depth for the purchase price, supporting a narrow Redskins win rather than a dramatic result.
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- other cash
Washington Commanders Received
- player Bob Wade
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Washington acquired Bob Wade from Pittsburgh on August 28, 1969 in a cash purchase. Pro Football Archives explicitly lists the transaction as a purchase, and Wade's career record places him with Pittsburgh in 1968 and Washington in 1969. The exchange was therefore a straightforward veteran defensive-back sale rather than a draft-pick trade.
Pittsburgh Steelers Return
Pittsburgh received cash for a defensive back who had been a regular starter the previous season. That return had immediate value but left no player or draft choice to generate additional football production. Since Wade's post-trade career was short, the Steelers did not surrender a long-term cornerstone, which keeps their grade around average rather than making the sale look costly.
Washington Redskins/Commanders Return
Washington received Wade and used him in 13 games during 1969. He did not become a long-term starter or major playmaker, but the club did get a full season of defensive and special-teams depth from a cash acquisition. For a modest purchase, that is a positive outcome, though the short tenure limits how high the grade can reasonably go.
Value in Hindsight
The value difference is small. Pittsburgh monetized a player it was willing to move, while Washington bought one season of useful depth. Wade's Washington tenure produced only modest Approximate Value and ended after 1969, so this is not a major steal. The Redskins simply received the clearer football return from a low-cost transaction.
Final Verdict
The final call is Washington Redskins Win. Pittsburgh Steelers receives a C+ grade and Washington Redskins/Commanders receives a B- grade. The grades weigh the actual football value created after the transaction, the cost paid, the length and quality of each return, and the uncertainty that still exists in the historical evidence. The judgment stays proportional to the size of the move rather than treating a depth transaction or late pick swap like a franchise-changing blockbuster.