New England acquired defensive end Tony McGee from Chicago…
New England acquired defensive end Tony McGee from Chicago just before the 1974 season for an eighth-round choice in 1975 and a third-round choice in 1976. McGee became a long-term Patriots contributor and was later named to the franchise's All-1970s Team. Chicago used the acquired choices on Joe Harris and Brian Baschnagel; Baschnagel alone played 129 games for the Bears, starting 73 and producing 2,024 receiving yards. The realized value on both sides makes an even verdict the fairest result.
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 1975 eighth round pick (#197-Joe Harris)
- pick 1976 third round pick (#66-Brian Baschnagel)
New England Patriots Received
- player Tony McGee (Eugene)
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
New England acquired defensive end Tony McGee from Chicago just before the 1974 season for an eighth-round choice in 1975 and a third-round choice in 1976. The exchange fit a common 1970s roster calculation: one club preferred an established player or immediate help, while the other accepted draft capital or a different asset path. The important hindsight question is not the nominal round alone, but what each team actually received once the move played out.
What Chicago Bears Received
McGee became a long-term Patriots contributor and was later named to the franchise's All-1970s Team. For Chicago Bears, that outcome is the main measure of the return. Immediate playing time matters, but so do durability, starts, scoring, and whether the acquired asset remained useful beyond a short stop. The result gives Chicago Bears a B+ because the club's realized contribution must be judged against what it surrendered.
What New England Patriots Received
Chicago used the acquired choices on Joe Harris and Brian Baschnagel; Baschnagel alone played 129 games for the Bears, starting 73 and producing 2,024 receiving yards. That gives New England Patriots a different value profile from the other side. A draft choice only becomes valuable when it turns into useful football production, while a veteran's value depends on how much he actually contributes after the trade. On that basis, New England Patriots earns a B+.
Why the Verdict Lands Here
Both clubs received durable multi-year value, making the exchange unusually balanced rather than a clear victory for either side. The comparison therefore rests on direct, realized NFL value rather than the theoretical price of the assets on the day of the deal. Longevity and meaningful contribution carry more weight than a pick number by itself, and a short stay can still matter when the opposing return produces even less.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Chicago Bears receives a B+, while New England Patriots receives a B+. The grades reflect the confirmed package and the football contribution that followed for each franchise.