Last night’s surprising trade of DE Gaines Adams (a top five pick two years ago) from Tampa Bay to Chicago, says a lot about how the Bears management feels toward their chances of advancing into the playoffs this season, as GM Jerry Angelo has now dumped a significant amount of his team’s draft resources for next season off to the Bucs and Broncos.

While Adams has been a monumental bust in Tampa, he’s still young, athletic, and talented enough to be able to make the jump into a solid defensive end in Chicago, all while providing the Bears with much needed depth right now. Adams isn’t going to inspire a media frenzy like a trade for Bills WR Terrell Owens would, but the leverage Chicago now has in dealing with soon to be free agent DEs Adewale Ogunleye and Mark Anderson will make up for the loss of the draft pick it took to get him there.

As for the Buccaneers, this move obviously signals a shift in the team’s strategy for this season, as they are now beginning to stockpile draft picks to build their franchise back up over the long term, instead of going for the quick fix. Obviously, this season has become a throw away year for Tampa, after starting their season 0-5, and seeing no life on the field. The move makes it clear that no one is off limits, and that alone is worth it’s weight in gold for a club that is struggling with motivation right now.

Rookie head coach Raheem Morris may seem as though he’s in over his head right now, but his analysis of Adams potential impact for the club likely pushed Tampa into action, and should provide them with a quality player next season as a result, if Tampa plays its cards right in the draft that is. Adams would likely have never blossomed into the star player the Bucs expected him to be, so cutting their losses now and getting something good in return makes a lot more sense than keeping him around to sit on the bench and sulk.

In the end, this trade is good for both sides, as it gives each team something they need and something to look forward to in the future. It also gives Adams a fresh start with a team that believes in his ability, which could be the motivation he needs to live up to his high draft status. We’ll see if he can produce this season for the Bears, but for now cautious optimism is the way to go.

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