Chicago Bears: Ranking the 5 greatest trades in team history

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 30: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears strips the football away from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter at Soldier Field on September 30, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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CHICAGO – 1987: Defensive lineman Dan Hampton #99 of the Chicago Bears chases down quarterback Steve Deberg #17 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during a game at Soldier Field during the 1987 NFL season in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

#4

Sometimes pulling off a great trade is about taking a risk. The Bears took a big one in 1978 when they traded Wally Chambers to the Buccaneers for their 1st round pick in 1979. Chambers had already been a three-time Pro Bowler to that point. After an injury knocked him out that season, they felt the time might be right to send him elsewhere for high draft capital.

This despite Chambers still being in his prime. It worked out. The defensive end only played one season in Tampa Bay before retiring. Chicago ended up with the #4 overall pick. They used it on a powerful defensive lineman out of Arkansas named Dan Hampton “Danimal” would become the lynchpin to arguably the greatest defense of all-time in the 1980s.

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