Chicago Bears received 1972 seventh round pick (#182-Jim…
Chicago Bears received 1972 seventh round pick (#182-Jim Osborne) in the exchange with Dallas Cowboys. The seventh-round choice became No. 182 Jim Osborne, who developed into a long-tenured Bears defensive lineman with substantially more starts and games than Caffey produced for Dallas. Against Dallas Cowboys' return of Lee Roy Caffey, that result supports a A- grade. The transaction is judged as Chicago Bears Win, with the mark based on the football value that actually followed from the deal.
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 1972 seventh round pick (#182-Jim Osborne)
Dallas Cowboys Received
- player Lee Roy Caffey
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys completed this transaction on 1971-09-21. Chicago Bears received 1972 seventh round pick (#182-Jim Osborne), while Dallas Cowboys received Lee Roy Caffey. Historical records support the core package, so the fairest comparison is the football value each asset actually produced after the exchange.
Chicago Bears Return
The seventh-round choice became No. 182 Jim Osborne, who developed into a long-tenured Bears defensive lineman with substantially more starts and games than Caffey produced for Dallas. That outcome supports the A- grade assigned to Chicago Bears. The mark credits value traceable to this deal, including playing time, starts, special-teams work, or the downstream use of a draft choice. It stays proportional to the size of the transaction rather than treating every acquired asset as equally important.
Dallas Cowboys Return
Lee Roy Caffey gave Dallas six games and veteran depth during the Cowboys' Super Bowl VI season, providing useful short-term help even though the return was brief. That outcome supports the B- grade assigned to Dallas Cowboys. The same standard applies here: the asset is judged by its realized NFL contribution, not by hypothetical upside that never became part of the return. That keeps the comparison focused on what the club actually received.
Value in Hindsight
The seventh-round choice became No. 182 Jim Osborne, who developed into a long-tenured Bears defensive lineman with substantially more starts and games than Caffey produced for Dallas. Lee Roy Caffey gave Dallas six games and veteran depth during the Cowboys' Super Bowl VI season, providing useful short-term help even though the return was brief. Together, those outcomes explain the grade spread. Useful short-term contribution still matters, but a longer or more productive return deserves the stronger mark. When both sides generated little value, the grades stay close; when the production gap was substantial, the verdict follows that separation.
Final Verdict
Chicago Bears Win. Chicago Bears receives a A-, while Dallas Cowboys receives a B-. The grades reflect the documented exchange and the value that followed from it, with the margin scaled to the actual importance and longevity of the returns.