Chicago Bears received 1996 6th round pick (201st overall…
Chicago Bears received 1996 6th round pick (201st overall subsequently traded, Hayward Clay) in the 1994-08-28 exchange with Dallas Cowboys. Chicago used the acquired No. 201 choice as one piece of a larger move from No. 18 to No. 13, where the Bears selected Walt Harris. Against Dallas Cowboys' return of Jim Schwantz, that outcome supports a B grade. The transaction is judged Chicago Bears Win, with the mark tied to the football value that actually followed from the deal.
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 1996 6th round pick (201st overall subsequently traded, Hayward Clay )
Dallas Cowboys Received
- player Jim Schwantz
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys completed this transaction on 1994-08-28. Chicago Bears received 1996 6th round pick (201st overall subsequently traded, Hayward Clay), while Dallas Cowboys received Jim Schwantz. The terms are evaluated from the value each club actually realized after the exchange, including documented playing time and any downstream use of an acquired draft choice. That keeps the comparison focused on the transaction itself rather than on hypothetical value.
Chicago Bears Return
Chicago used the acquired No. 201 choice as one piece of a larger move from No. 18 to No. 13, where the Bears selected Walt Harris. That result supports the B grade assigned to Chicago Bears. The mark gives credit for service or asset value traceable to this deal and does not inflate the return simply because a player or draft choice carried a recognizable name. The relevant question is what the club actually received from the asset after the exchange.
Dallas Cowboys Return
Schwantz supplied Dallas useful linebacker and special-teams depth across three seasons, including the Cowboys championship season in 1995. That result supports the C+ grade assigned to Dallas Cowboys. The same standard applies on this side: realized production, starts, roster utility, or a documented downstream transaction matters more than the nominal label attached to the asset. The grade therefore reflects practical football value rather than theoretical upside.
Value in Hindsight
The advantage belongs to Chicago Bears. Its verified return produced more useful service or downstream value than Dallas Cowboys' side, while the grade spread remains proportional to the modest scale of the original transaction. The comparison also avoids crediting either club for value that belonged to a later, unrelated team or for a downstream outcome that the club never actually controlled. That produces a cleaner measure of what this specific exchange delivered.
Final Verdict
Chicago Bears Win. Chicago Bears earns a B, while Dallas Cowboys earns a C+. Chicago Bears receives the better mark because its side produced the clearer realized football return. The conclusion follows the verified service and downstream value tied to each side of the transaction, with the grades scaled to the size and impact of the deal.