Chicago acquired Ted Vactor from Washington for a 1976…
Chicago acquired Ted Vactor from Washington for a 1976 tenth-round selection. Vactor appeared in four regular-season games for the Bears in 1975, providing modest veteran secondary depth. Washington used No. 272 on Paul Strohmeier, but the pick did not become an NFL regular-season contributor. The scale of the trade was tiny, yet Chicago received the only measurable post-trade football value, producing a narrow Bears win rather than a major success.
Chicago Bears Received
- player Ted Vactor
Washington Commanders Received
- pick 1976 tenth round pick (#272-Paul Strohmeier)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On September 4, 1975, Washington traded defensive back Ted Vactor to Chicago for a 1976 tenth-round draft choice. Draft transaction records identify the return as No. 272, which Washington used on Paul Strohmeier. The trade was a minor veteran-for-late-pick transaction, so the evaluation turns on whether Vactor supplied any Chicago service and whether the tenth-round selection became an NFL contributor.
Chicago Bears Return
Vactor did provide immediate, if limited, value. Pro Football Reference credits him with four regular-season games for Chicago in 1975. That is a small return, but the acquisition cost was only a tenth-round pick in an era with a much deeper draft. The Bears were not buying a long-term starter; they were adding veteran secondary depth. Getting actual regular-season appearances clears a modest bar for that kind of transaction.
Washington Commanders Return
Washington gained the No. 272 selection in the 1976 draft and used it on Paul Strohmeier. Historical draft and team materials identify the selection, but the player did not develop into an NFL regular-season contributor. The Commanders therefore received a real draft asset and exercised it, yet the pick produced no comparable professional service. The late round limits how harshly that outcome should be judged.
Value in Hindsight
Neither side generated major value, but Chicago at least received regular-season games from the player it acquired. Washington obtained a tenth-round lottery ticket and saw it fail to become an NFL contributor. Since the cost was extremely low and Vactor’s Chicago stint was brief, this should be graded as a minor edge rather than a significant organizational win.
Final Verdict
Chicago wins narrowly. The Bears earn a C for receiving four games of veteran depth at a tenth-round price. Washington receives a D because the No. 272 selection did not create NFL regular-season value. The result is modest, but Chicago has the only documented post-trade contribution.