Most would agree that one of the worst trades in modern Chicago Bears history involved sending tight end Greg Olsen to the Carolina Panthers in 2011. The reasoning behind the move at the time was a case of simple scheme fit. New offensive coordinator Mike Martz didn’t have a lot of use for pass-catching tight ends in his system, so Olsen wasn’t valuable in his eyes. Thus the Bears were forced into a decision. Either keep him around in hopes Martz changes his mind or roll with it and send the tight end elsewhere for draft capital in return.
They eventually chose the latter, collecting a 3rd round pick in the deal with Carolina. What many fans may not know is that the deal actually occurred far later than the Bears had expected. During an interview on The Dan Patrick Show, Olsen revealed that GM Jerry Angelo actually had an agreement in place a full year earlier with the New England Patriots. One that would’ve netted the Bears a 2nd round pick in that draft.
So why didn’t it happen? Apparently the deal depended on whether or not the Patriots got a guy they coveted in the draft. A young man named Rob Gronkowski, whom they’d expected would go in the 1st round. It didn’t happen. He fell into the 2nd round and they swooped in. The rest is history.
Greg Olsen trade was beginning of the end for Angelo
Chicago had no 1st or 2nd round picks in the 2010 draft due to the Jay Cutler trade the year prior. So it would’ve been interesting to see how different things might’ve gone for them had such a deal gone through. Odds are they would’ve ended up with the #44 pick in that round. This would’ve put a number of talented players in on their plate including Linval Joseph, Carlos Dunlap, and Golden Tate. All future Pro Bowlers who could’ve been a big help to the Bears.
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It didn’t work out. Instead, the Olsen trade became the catalyst for the offseason that ended up getting Angelo fired. After dealing the future three-time Pro Bowler, he delivered a forgettable free agency period headlined by wide receiver Roy Williams before putting an exclamation point on everything with his selection of Gabe Carimi in the 1st round of the draft. The Bears finished 8-8 and out of the playoffs. Proof again that timing can often be everything.
