The Chicago Bears have had a rough decade, making the playoffs just twice since 2010, despite regularly picking high in the NFL Draft. Near the beginning of the 2012s, they had some stronger years, including the 2011 season when they narrowly missed out on a playoff spot with a 10-6 record, but things have wavered, especially recently, for the franchise.
Looking back at that 2012 campaign, the Bears made a big push to try and remain a perennial playoff contender, trading for wide receiver Brandon Marshall from the Miami Dolphins ahead of his age-28 season.
Marshall would spend three seasons with the Bears, initially forming a strong connection with quarterback Jay Cutler, before later being traded to the New York Jets.
It’s been 10 years since Marhsall was traded by the Bears, so let’s revisit those two trades and see how they panned out for the Bears during one of their better seasons in recent memory.
Trade details from the 2012 Bears trade for Brandon Marshall
------------------------------------------------------------
* Bears receive: WR Brandon Marshall
* Dolphins receive: 2012 third-round pick, 2013 third-round pick
Trade details from the 2015 trade of Brandon Marshall
-----------------------------------------------------
* Bears receive: 2015 fifth-round pick
* Jets receive: WR Brandon Marshall, 2015 seventh-round picks
How did Brandon Marshall perform for the Bears after the 2012 trade?
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Marshall was a star upon arriving in Chicago and maintained his production with the Bears. After eclipsing 1,000 yards in five straight seasons, Marshall had 1,508 yards and 1,295 yards in his first two years in Chicago.
That notched him two Pro Bowls and a first-team All-Pro selection, which was the first of his career. He did struggle more in his third season with the Bears, catching 61 passes for 721 yards in 13 games in 2014 before being traded to the New York Jets.
What did the Dolphins do with the picks from the 2012 Brandon Marshall trade?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Looking at the first trade, the Dolphins received two third-round picks in consecutive years. The 2012 third-rounder was used in a trade back, getting Miami two picks: a third-rounder pick (used to take tight end Michael Egnew) and a sixth-rounder (used to take wide receiver B.J. Cunningham).
Miami made a flurry of moves with the 2013 third-rounder they got. They first moved back with the New Orleans Saints for a pair of fourth-round picks. They then moved back into the third round to take cornerback Will Davis with one of those picks, while taking tight end Dion Sims with the fourth-rounder they kept.
The Dolphins didn’t get much production from any of the players they drafted from the Marshall trade. Michael Egnew spent just two seasons in Miami, catching seven total passes before being waived and bouncing around a couple of practice squads. Additionally, B.J. Cunningham spent only one season with the Dolphins.
From the 2013 draft, Will Davis struggled to see the field, getting waived after two seasons in Miami. Dion Sims was the most productive of the four players, but he caught just 26 passes for 256 yards and four touchdowns in his best season. He didn’t earn a second contract with the Dolphins.
What did the Bears do with their pick from the 2015 Brandon Marshall trade?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In 2015, the Bears received the No. 142 overall pick for Marshall and took safety Adrian Amos. He played four seasons in Chicago, starting right off the bat at strong safety. He played 60 games and picked off three passes (one returned for a touchdown), 18 passes defended, three forced fumbles and three recovered fumbles, two sacks, and 274 total tackles.
How did Brandon Marshall perform for the Jets after his trade?
--------------------------------------------------------------
The Jets got one elite season out of Marshall, as he caught 109 passes for 1,502 yards and a league-leading 14 touchdowns in 2015, earning second-team All-Pro honors.
He was far less productive in his second campaign in New York, going for 788 receiving yards, but it was solid value for the Jets, who gave up just a fifth-round pick to get him.
What did the Jets do with the pick that accompanied Brandon Marshall in the 2015 trade?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Jets traded the seventh-round pick for running back Zac Stacy. He played one season for the Jets, notching eight games and 31 rushes for 89 yards and a touchdown. He also added nine receptions for 65 yards.
Who won the Brandon Marshall trade?
The Bears were clear winners of the first trade, while the second was more even, given the elite production from Marshall for a year and the steal of Amos in the fifth round.
**Winner: Chicago**