Chicago acquired veteran defensive lineman Steve DeLong, but…
Chicago acquired veteran defensive lineman Steve DeLong, but his Bears tenure came at the end of his NFL career and produced limited lasting value. The C grade reflects a legitimate veteran acquisition without a substantial long-term payoff. San Diego's eventual use of the fourth-round selection on Jim Thaxton produced the stronger realized return and supports the Chargers Win verdict.
Chicago Bears Received
- player Steve DeLong
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- pick 1973 fourth round pick (#84-Jim Thaxton)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1972-07-26, Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Chargers completed this exchange. Chicago Bears received Steve DeLong, while Los Angeles Chargers received 1973 fourth round pick (#84-Jim Thaxton). Historical team, player, and draft records support the compensation and provide enough career context to compare what each side actually gained.
Chicago Bears Return
Chicago acquired veteran defensive lineman Steve DeLong, but his Bears tenure came at the end of his NFL career and produced limited lasting value. The C grade reflects a legitimate veteran acquisition without a substantial long-term payoff. San Diego's eventual use of the fourth-round selection on Jim Thaxton produced the stronger realized return and supports the Chargers Win verdict.
Los Angeles Chargers Return
San Diego received the 1973 fourth-round selection at No. 84 and used it on Jim Thaxton. Thaxton went on to play fifty-four NFL games, giving the Chargers useful value from a mid-round choice. The B grade reflects that multi-season contribution, which exceeded the short-lived return Chicago received from Steve DeLong and supports a Chargers Win verdict.
Value in Hindsight
The comparison is modest but clear. Steve DeLong's Chicago stay came at the end of his career, while Jim Thaxton turned San Diego's fourth-round selection into fifty-four NFL games. Neither side found a star, but the Chargers extracted the more durable football value from the same transaction.
Final Verdict
The final call is Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers Win. Chicago Bears earns a C, and Los Angeles Chargers earns a B. Those grades weigh the supported compensation, the quality and duration of the resulting contributions, and the practical football value each club ultimately realized from the exchange.