Cugel
09-27-2008, 01:44 PM
I thought this was a fascinating article in the post today. In the wake of Detroit GM Matt Millen's firing the Post runs down one of the greatest trades that never was.
I'm not saying that things turned out terribly for the Broncos but it's interesting to speculate about how close the Broncos came to pulling off a coup, taking advantage of poor Matt Millen's low-intellect: http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_10573005
The [2007] Broncos-Lions trade involving [Dre] Bly would have grown into a blockbuster had Millen not changed his mind overnight. After exchanging ideas for weeks, here was the initial, agreed-upon trade proposal: The Broncos would have sent middle linebacker Al Wilson, right tackle George Foster, running back Tatum Bell, their No. 21 overall first-round pick and a third-round pick in exchange for Bly, who would replace Darrent Williams at right cornerback, the Lions' No. 2 overall first-round draft pick and the Lions' second-round pick.
Millen said yes. The Broncos said yes. Denver most likely would have taken receiver Calvin Johnson with that No. 2 overall pick, although the Broncos were also discussing left tackle Joe Thomas.
But both sides wanted to sleep on the deal. The next morning, Millen said no, in large part because he didn't like what he saw from Wilson on film.
This was one time when Millen's instincts did not betray him. Turns out, the Lions were watching Wilson play with a neck injury that essentially ended his career. The deal was pared down. The Lions got Foster, Bell and a fifth-round pick in exchange for Bly and a sixth-round pick.
It's true what they say about how the best deals are often the ones not made. Had the Broncos wound up with Johnson, who was going to team with a healthy and productive Javon Walker, Brandon Marshall might not have developed into "The Beast" he's become.
If Matt Millen hadn't gotten cold feet, the Broncos would have unloaded Al Wilson when he still had trade value, before his neck injury ended his career. That alone would have made the deal a total steal. Then add trading stiffs like George Foster, Tatum Bell and getting something in return would have made it even better.
But, the question is: "would the Broncos have screwed themselves by taking Calvin Johnson with the #2 pick, or would they have done the smart thing and taken LT Joe Thomas?"
If they had taken Johnson, it might have worked out, but they would probably never have drafted Brandon Marshall who is shaping up to become the best WR in the NFL, and only cost the Broncos a 4th round pick, and they might well have taken Marshall anyway to serve as a backup or #2 WR.
It's true that Ryan Clady is performing brilliantly, but T Joe Thomas stepped right in to start at LT for Cleveland, played brilliantly from the word go, and became the rookie of the year last year. Having Joe Thomas starting at LT in his second year for the Broncos this season certainly wouldn't have hurt them at all. He might be even better than Clady in the end, although I think both will be great franchise LTs for a lot of years, barring injury.
But, if they took Joe Thomas, the deal would have enabled the Broncos to use their #1 pick this year on someone other than a LT. Possibly, they would have traded it and moved back, or else they would have tried to trade up and grab a DT ahead of the Saints, who took Sedrick Ellis at #7. That would have filled a gaping need on the Broncos defense.
Or the Broncos could have taken RB Jonathan Stewart who went to the Panthers with the next pick. He might work out to be a good selection, although the Broncos are high on Torain. He's very injury prone however, and might never be the runner they hope he could become if he can't stay healthy.
For one thing, if this deal HAD gone through, the Broncos would NOT have drafted DE Jarvis Moss, which means they would NOT have wasted a 3rd round pick to move up from #21 to #17 to draft him (in fact they would have traded that pick to Detroit). That would have been an extra bonus.
Given that the Broncos wasted that 3rd rounder anyway just to move up 4 places and make sure of getting Moss, using the pick to move up to #2 seems like a much better deal.
Right now Moss is looking like a probable bust. The jury's still out on that but he's stuck behind Dumervil at RT and that doesn't look to change anytime soon.
Can any of you really see him ever becoming a starter on this team? He's not big or strong enough to start at LE and he's not better than Dumervil, and he makes a lot more money. So he's likely languish on the bench a l lot and then be cut or traded when his rookie contract expires.
He's been inactive and invisible when active. So, not having drafted him would be a bonus from the biggest trade that never was.
I'm not saying that things turned out terribly for the Broncos but it's interesting to speculate about how close the Broncos came to pulling off a coup, taking advantage of poor Matt Millen's low-intellect: http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_10573005
The [2007] Broncos-Lions trade involving [Dre] Bly would have grown into a blockbuster had Millen not changed his mind overnight. After exchanging ideas for weeks, here was the initial, agreed-upon trade proposal: The Broncos would have sent middle linebacker Al Wilson, right tackle George Foster, running back Tatum Bell, their No. 21 overall first-round pick and a third-round pick in exchange for Bly, who would replace Darrent Williams at right cornerback, the Lions' No. 2 overall first-round draft pick and the Lions' second-round pick.
Millen said yes. The Broncos said yes. Denver most likely would have taken receiver Calvin Johnson with that No. 2 overall pick, although the Broncos were also discussing left tackle Joe Thomas.
But both sides wanted to sleep on the deal. The next morning, Millen said no, in large part because he didn't like what he saw from Wilson on film.
This was one time when Millen's instincts did not betray him. Turns out, the Lions were watching Wilson play with a neck injury that essentially ended his career. The deal was pared down. The Lions got Foster, Bell and a fifth-round pick in exchange for Bly and a sixth-round pick.
It's true what they say about how the best deals are often the ones not made. Had the Broncos wound up with Johnson, who was going to team with a healthy and productive Javon Walker, Brandon Marshall might not have developed into "The Beast" he's become.
If Matt Millen hadn't gotten cold feet, the Broncos would have unloaded Al Wilson when he still had trade value, before his neck injury ended his career. That alone would have made the deal a total steal. Then add trading stiffs like George Foster, Tatum Bell and getting something in return would have made it even better.
But, the question is: "would the Broncos have screwed themselves by taking Calvin Johnson with the #2 pick, or would they have done the smart thing and taken LT Joe Thomas?"
If they had taken Johnson, it might have worked out, but they would probably never have drafted Brandon Marshall who is shaping up to become the best WR in the NFL, and only cost the Broncos a 4th round pick, and they might well have taken Marshall anyway to serve as a backup or #2 WR.
It's true that Ryan Clady is performing brilliantly, but T Joe Thomas stepped right in to start at LT for Cleveland, played brilliantly from the word go, and became the rookie of the year last year. Having Joe Thomas starting at LT in his second year for the Broncos this season certainly wouldn't have hurt them at all. He might be even better than Clady in the end, although I think both will be great franchise LTs for a lot of years, barring injury.
But, if they took Joe Thomas, the deal would have enabled the Broncos to use their #1 pick this year on someone other than a LT. Possibly, they would have traded it and moved back, or else they would have tried to trade up and grab a DT ahead of the Saints, who took Sedrick Ellis at #7. That would have filled a gaping need on the Broncos defense.
Or the Broncos could have taken RB Jonathan Stewart who went to the Panthers with the next pick. He might work out to be a good selection, although the Broncos are high on Torain. He's very injury prone however, and might never be the runner they hope he could become if he can't stay healthy.
For one thing, if this deal HAD gone through, the Broncos would NOT have drafted DE Jarvis Moss, which means they would NOT have wasted a 3rd round pick to move up from #21 to #17 to draft him (in fact they would have traded that pick to Detroit). That would have been an extra bonus.
Given that the Broncos wasted that 3rd rounder anyway just to move up 4 places and make sure of getting Moss, using the pick to move up to #2 seems like a much better deal.
Right now Moss is looking like a probable bust. The jury's still out on that but he's stuck behind Dumervil at RT and that doesn't look to change anytime soon.
Can any of you really see him ever becoming a starter on this team? He's not big or strong enough to start at LE and he's not better than Dumervil, and he makes a lot more money. So he's likely languish on the bench a l lot and then be cut or traded when his rookie contract expires.
He's been inactive and invisible when active. So, not having drafted him would be a bonus from the biggest trade that never was.