Broncos Acquire Dre' Bly From Lions For Tatum Bell and George Foster

by John Bena on Mar 1, 2007 11:41 AM MST

Despite my public outcries, the Denver Broncos traded Tatum Bell and George Foster to the Detroit Lions for CB Dre' Bly. What makes this a great deal for the Broncos is the fact they did not have to part with any of their draft picks. This allows the team continued flexibility when it comes to the draft.

I know there are some out there that'll think I didn't want Dre Bly. Let me be clear. I am for whatever makes the Denver Broncos a better football team. To me, giving up draft picks for Bly didn't make us better. Giving up two players we didn't want anyway for Dre' Bly DOES make the Broncos a better football team and I am all for that. Bly is a solid player. I still have my concerns about his durability, but coming to a team where he won't have to be the man can only help his production. We'll have to wait and see what his contract situation will be, but bu getting Bly for only players make this a great trade for Denver, today and in the future.

Update [2:10pm by TheSportsGuru]: Ok, so I have thought about it for a second. Do you guys and gals realize what just happened? We were able to get a top-notch Corner to pair with the best cover guy in the league for nothing more than two guys we had no use for anyway. Even with how good the Portis/Bailey trade has worked out for us, at the time it seemed like it was a bit lopsided towards the Redskins. This deal, however, while plugging holes for both sides is definitely on that favors the Broncos. T-Bell and Foster were gone anyway, and now we get Bly. The cap hit is not nearly as much of a problem becuase of the salary wash with Bell and Foster.

Needless to say this is a bright day in what has been a dark off-season for the Broncos!

Update #2[2:17 by TheSportsGuru]: It now looks like there is a pick involved, believed to be a 5th Rounder. Let's hope it ends there....

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Wow

That's a pretty awesome trade if you ask me. I don't know how much extra cap Bly eats up, but its a big upgrade at CB over Foxworth and having Foxworth at nickel really gives us good depth. back there again. Given how few pass rushers there are available, there wasn't anywhere better to spend the cap money probably anyway.

I agree with TSG that not having to give up a 3rd round pick or anything like that is huge to help move up on day 1 for a DE or for a RB since we certainly need one now. Foster's fate was already sealed I guess, but we really do need some O-line help too.

by bushwah on Mar 1, 2007 12:01 PM MST reply actions

Thoughts

The article does say we parted with a draft pick. Most likely a fifth round. I have mixed feelings about Bly. He wasn't happy in Detroit so I wonder if he will be ok in our clubhouse. Of course winning changes attitudes pretty quickly. I'm not crazy about giving a long term deal to a cornerback about to turn 30.

I guess it's good we got a good corner for an underachieving RB and an o-lineman we didn't really want. But now we're desperately thin at RB and could use some help on the o-line too. And we still have a need for a pass rushing DE.

I don't think the Broncos are done dealing yet. They will either move up to get a playbreaking RB or they will take a DE in the first round and look for a serviceable RB in round two. (Tony Hunt perhaps?) I think Denver fans would be very pleased with his downhill running style.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
SBNation's Penn State Blog

by Mike @ Mile High Report on Mar 1, 2007 12:21 PM MST reply actions

This is a good move

Remember, Bly doesn't have to be THE GUY here --- he just has to be the dude able to handle the extra attention OC's give the corner playing opposite Champ. That makes me more optimistic.

Plus in that secondary we have Champ and Lynch - two of the greatest class guys in all of sports. They should be great influences on Bly ... and honestly would YOU have been happy working for Millen????

Also - this is, in my opinion, a great trade - even with the pick involved. I love how Shanny is the only guy in the NFL willing to make Madden-esque trades. Brilliant.

by MisterTinDC on Mar 1, 2007 2:43 PM MST reply actions

you bring up good points...

... and you've managed to put my mind at ease a bit... Hopefully Champ and Lynch will rub off on the guy.

by SD Bronco on Mar 1, 2007 5:07 PM MST up reply actions

Not sure how I feel about the deal

I seem to be in the minority who thinks CB was not that big a need this offseason (or at least not as big as safety, DT and DE). I have confidence that Foxworth and/or Paymah can do the job, but I acknowledge that we needed to bring someone in just in case. However I was thinking more along the lines of Hank Poteat (who the Jets resigned) or another vet who would accept being on the bench if Foxworth proved his worth.

I know we did not give up too much to get Bly but I would have preferred to see Tatum and Foster be used to help us in other areas (of course I have no idea if there was any other interest in them). I think the key for me will be what they do with Bly's contract. As it stands we added more than a million dollars in salary at a time when we dont have a lot of room. That number can be reduced with an extension, but then we have a bunch of money tied up in two CBs for the next few years (which pretty much guarantees that Foxworth and/or Paymah are gone after this year)

Long story short, the Broncos roster is definitely better immediately after this trade. The question is whether this deal will hamstring the team and prevent them from making other moves that would improve the team more.

by MattR on Mar 1, 2007 3:19 PM MST reply actions

Thoughts.

I have no worries about Dre Bly's attitude. His difficulties in Detroit were due to personal problems with management (Matt Millen) and disagreements on the scheme the defense was running (Marinelli). Both of those issues won't arise in Denver. Besides, the Lions franchise is worse than a loser, it's a joke and that gets to anyone. Think of the difference in Corey Dillon as a Bengal and as a Patriot. This guy will succeed as a Bronco.

He's a playmaker with a real nose for the ball and endzone. He's a great cover guy that is going to get more than his fair share of chances playing opposite of Champ. Now, if we can snag a solid safety later in this draft (John Wendling in the late 3rd?) our DBs will be absolutely stacked. At this point, we should look to add some help along the trenches and a solid, all-around RB.

Honestly, I like this move a lot. This franchise needs to win now.

by ejruiz on Mar 1, 2007 4:26 PM MST reply actions

Warren resigned

I believe redoing Warren's deal is what freed up the cap space to bring in Bly. Thought I read too that they're redoing Bly's contract as well.

This is a good move. Now the draft can go completely D-line, an RB, possible safety.

Also, don't be shocked if the Donks take a flyer on Jamal Lewis. They wanted him last year.

by MN Bronco on Mar 1, 2007 5:59 PM MST reply actions

DBs

Now that we have the best corner duo in the league, this could really open us up to blitz our LBs more (like 2 seasons ago) instead of constantly dropping them back and relying on the DL.

by SD Bronco on Mar 1, 2007 7:44 PM MST reply actions