Chicago obtained veteran center John Didion, while New…
Chicago obtained veteran center John Didion, while New Orleans received the 1976 seventh-round choice that became Ed Bauer. Didion's NFL career had effectively reached its end by the time of the exchange, and Bauer did not produce an NFL career from pick No. 201. The deal was a low-cost depth transaction with little lasting value on either side. Chicago took the immediate veteran option, while New Orleans deferred its return to the bottom of the next draft.
Chicago Bears Received
- player John Didion
New Orleans Saints Received
- pick 1976 seventh round pick (#201-Ed Bauer)
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Chicago acquired center John Didion; New Orleans received the 1976 seventh-round pick that became Ed Bauer. The transaction reflected a familiar veteran-for-value calculation: one club wanted immediate roster help, while the other was willing to exchange present certainty for draft capital or a different player. In hindsight, the useful question is what each side actually converted those assets into.
What Chicago Bears Received
Chicago obtained veteran center John Didion, while New Orleans received the 1976 seventh-round choice that became Ed Bauer. Didion's NFL career had effectively reached its end by the time of the exchange, and Bauer did not produce an NFL career from pick No. 201. For Chicago Bears, the return is judged by the NFL contribution that followed, not simply by the round number or the reputation of the outgoing player. That realized value supports a C grade for Chicago Bears.
What New Orleans Saints Received
The New Orleans Saints side of the exchange addressed a different roster need. The deal was a low-cost depth transaction with little lasting value on either side. Chicago took the immediate veteran option, while New Orleans deferred its return to the bottom of the next draft. The value was real enough to deserve credit where appropriate, but the long-term comparison supports a C grade for New Orleans Saints.
Why the Verdict Lands Here
The deciding factor is the difference between immediate usefulness and durable value. The documented package produced enough evidence to separate the two sides without overstating what a late pick or short veteran stint meant. The deal was a low-cost depth transaction with little lasting value on either side. Chicago took the immediate veteran option, while New Orleans deferred its return to the bottom of the next draft. That is why the result is Even Trade.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Chicago Bears receives a C, while New Orleans Saints receives a C. The grades reflect the confirmed exchange, the downstream players attached to the picks, and the actual football contribution that followed rather than the value those assets might have carried in theory.