Chicago received two sixth-round picks, one of which became…
Chicago received two sixth-round picks, one of which became quarterback Vince Evans and the other Andre Herrera. The picks gave the Bears multiple roster opportunities after moving Gary Huff. Evans in particular became the durable part of Chicago's return, giving the club more lasting asset value than Tampa Bay received from Huff.
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 1977 sixth round pick (#140-Vince Evans)
- pick 1977 sixth round pick (#167-Andre Herrera)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Received
- player Gary Huff
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Chicago traded quarterback Gary Huff to Tampa Bay for two sixth-round selections in the 1977 draft, which became Vince Evans at No. 140 and Andre Herrera at No. 167. The exchange should be evaluated through those actual outcomes. Tampa Bay received immediate quarterback starts, while Chicago received two chances to turn draft capital into longer-term roster value.
Chicago Bears Return
Chicago's return consisted of the two sixth-round picks. One became quarterback Vince Evans, who provided the Bears with a durable roster asset beyond the 1977 draft itself; the other became Andre Herrera. The two selections gave Chicago more than abstract draft capital—they produced identifiable players, with Evans supplying the more meaningful long-term return.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Return
Huff started six games for Tampa Bay in 1977 and threw for 889 yards, three touchdowns and 13 interceptions. That was real quarterback service for a young franchise, but it was limited in both efficiency and duration. He should not be credited with starting during Tampa Bay's first winning season; that occurred later and was not part of his 1977 contribution.
Value in Hindsight
Tampa Bay got immediate use from Huff, so the trade was not a total miss. Chicago nevertheless received two draft assets and a more durable roster outcome through Evans. The Bears' return extended beyond one difficult quarterback season, while Tampa Bay's benefit was concentrated in six starts during a 2-12 year.
Final Verdict
Chicago wins, B to C. Huff gave Tampa Bay needed 1977 quarterback snaps, but the Bears turned him into two draft choices and received the more durable overall return. The corrected analysis removes the inaccurate first-winning-season claim and grounds both sides in their actual post-trade results.