Trace Armstrong the best trade between the Miami Dolphins and the Bears

The Miami Dolphins were able to turn a top defensive end into two solid players.

Adewale Ogunleye was a top NFL defensive end by the time his final season in Miami arrived. His 2003 season ended with a Pro Bowl and the expectation of a new contract extension. The Dolphins, in a bad cap situation under Dave Wannstedt, couldn’t afford to pay him the contract he wanted. So they traded him to Chicago.

The Dolphins received WR Marty Booker and a 3rd round pick in 2005 for Ogunleye. At the time, it wasn’t considered a good trade for the Dolphins. Miami needed WR help though and Booker was considered one of the better receivers in the league at the time.

While Ogunleye would spend six years with the Bears and one with Houston, the Dolphins would get four decent seasons out of Booker that included three seasons of 50 or more receptions and 11 touchdowns. This wasn’t all that bad considering the Dolphins were an absolute mess during those years.

When 2005 finally arrived, Dave Wannstedt was long gone and Nick Saban was at the helm. With the selection obtained in the Ogunleye trade, Saban drafted linebacker Channing Crowder. Crowder spent six seasons with Miami starting 74 games. He had a big personality and played tough. He totaled 470 tackles in his career which ultimately ended early due to injuries.