Chicago acquired Eddie Kennison from New Orleans for the…
Chicago acquired Eddie Kennison from New Orleans for the 138th pick in the 2000 draft. Kennison started 10 games for the Bears that season and caught 55 passes for 549 yards and two touchdowns. New Orleans later traded the pick to Indianapolis and turned it into two later choices, including Michael Hawthorne. The Saints recovered some value, but Chicago received the strongest immediate production from the original exchange.
Chicago Bears Received
- player Eddie Kennison
New Orleans Saints Received
- pick 2000 5th round pick (138th overall subsequently traded, Matt Johnson )
Trade Analysis
Why Chicago Added Eddie Kennison
The Bears traded the 138th pick to New Orleans for veteran receiver Eddie Kennison before the 2000 draft. Kennison had just posted 835 receiving yards for the Saints in 1999, so Chicago was buying an established NFL target rather than waiting for a fifth-round prospect. He started 10 games for the Bears in 2000, caught 55 passes for 549 yards and scored two touchdowns. That represented immediate, measurable offensive value from the transaction.
What New Orleans Did With Pick No. 138
The Saints did not simply use the 138th selection. On draft day they moved it to Indianapolis for picks No. 158 and No. 195. New Orleans selected tight end Austin Wheatley and defensive back Michael Hawthorne. Wheatley appeared in only four games, but Hawthorne played 63 career games and spent three seasons with the Saints. That downstream move prevented the Kennison trade from becoming a complete loss for New Orleans.
How the Returns Compare
Chicago received only one season from Kennison before he moved on, so the Bears did not acquire the long Kansas City portion of his later career. New Orleans, meanwhile, extracted a useful defensive back after turning the original fifth-rounder into two picks. The comparison is therefore closer than Kennison’s full career totals suggest. Still, a 55-catch season of immediate receiving production was more valuable than the limited Saints tenure produced by the later selections.
Final Verdict
Chicago Bears Win. Chicago earns a B for turning a fifth-round pick into a starting receiver who produced 549 yards immediately. New Orleans receives a C+ because the Saints successfully traded down and found some value in Michael Hawthorne, but not enough to surpass Chicago’s direct return. The deal was useful for both sides, with the Bears holding the clearer short-term advantage.