Broncos want Johnson

by WABronco on Apr 23, 2007 3:23 PM MDT Comment 8 comments

BRONCOS WANT JOHNSON

A reader tells us that there's a rumor being reported on 950 AM in Denver that the Broncos are trying to make a play for the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, in an effort to land receiver Calvin Johnson.

A source with knowledge of the discussions tells us that the rumor is dead-on accurate, and that an offer has been made by the Broncos to the Lions.

Per the rumor and based on what we've heard, the Broncos have offered their first-round, second-round, and third-round pick in the 2007 draft and their first-rounder in 2008 for the No. 2 spot.

The Lions, we're told, are concerned that the No. 21 overall spot would put them too low to land one of the players whom they covet. The Lions' goal in trading down is/has been to get more picks, and to still get one of the players they want, but at a lower salary slot.

So the deal might hinge on the ability of the Lions to line up another deal that would allow them to move back up a bit.

The Broncos hold the No. 21 overall pick in round one, the No. 56 overall pick (No. 24 in round two), and the No. 70 and No. 86 overall picks (No. 6 and No. 23, respectively, in round two). We don't know which of the third-rounders has been offered.

Under the trade chart, the deal might favor the Lions. But different teams value picks from the next year's draft differently; some teams downgrade the points by a full round, making a 2007 first-rounder the equivalent of a 2008 secon-rounder. The other problem here is that no one will know where the Broncos draft in round one until the 2007 season ends.

The entire deal would be contingent on the Raiders not drafting Calvin Johnson with the No. 1 overall pick. We're currently told that the Raiders are expected to strike a deal on a contract with quarterback JaMarcus Russell before Saturday.

However, the fact that former Raiders coach/current Broncos coach Mike Shanahan apparently has a bee in his butt for Johnson could cause Raiders owner Al Davis to think twice about whether he would prefer to have Johnson on his team -- or to have to face him twice per year.

profootballtalk.com

Wow...I would go berserk, but in a very good way, if we got our hands on CJ.

He is the best wideout to come out in my time, and maybe the best offensive prospect as well.

Thoughts?

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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Comments

Rumors....

This would be exciting. Cutler to Johnson. I thought Cutler to Ginn sounded deadly. This would be amazing!

I am inclined to think that this is just a rumor. It is possible that there is a little gamemanship going on here. If Al Davis is paranoid enough to think the "hated" Broncos will end up with a GREAT QB to WR tandem, he will think twice about taking Russell. It would not be beyond him to take CJ, trade him to the Bucs for there fourth+, and take the best available player left. Just to keep CJ away from the Broncos, Old Evil Al would take less in this trade and consider it a win.

by ks1broncosfan on Apr 23, 2007 3:39 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

This mindset is why the Raiders pick first

Just to keep CJ away from the Broncos, Old Evil Al would take less in this trade and consider it a win.

However, if TB did swap with Oakland and took CJ, what happens next? Is #2 Adams to Detroit? Adams to Denver? and then what does Cleveland do at 3? Russell or Quinn or Thomas or Peterson? Could Oakland still get Russell at 4?

Which brings up the other point - could Adams be Shanny's true target but he figures the only way to get Detroit to move out of the way is to feign interest in CJ. I absolutely love the idea of Cutler to CJ, Javon, Scheffler, D Graham and B Marshall for 5-7 years. But if Gaines Adams is the clear cut stud pass rusher of the draft, he's the guy who would help us the most.

by MattR on Apr 23, 2007 11:32 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think.....

if Oakland took CJ Detroit would stay put and take Russell. One common comment to this "report" is that the deal would be void if the Raiders took CJ. No doubt a scenario like this would shake up the top ten picks and might push Adams out of the top five. In this scenario:

Oakland - CJ
Detroit - Russell
Cleveland - Quinn / Peterson
TB - Joe Thomas
Arizona - Levi Brown / Branch / Okoye
Washington - Gaines Adams or TRADE WITH DENVER

by ks1broncosfan on Apr 24, 2007 10:35 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

There is...

no doubt that the Broncos made two different offers to the Lions for the pick, as I noted in my Bits and Bytes toady. One was similar to the trade above, the other included Al Wilson and the #21 back when the Dre Bly trade was made.

So, it is fact to say the Broncos wanted that pick.

I just don't think any player is worth mortgaging a draft over. Just my opinion....

-TSG

www.milehighreport.com

by John Bena (aka TheSportsGuru) on Apr 23, 2007 4:52 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Apparently....

a lot of teams have contacted the Lions about this pick. You would think two 1st and one second would be plenty to get this done. But the unreasonable value chart will not allow this. I would be interested to see how the salary cap would be affected by this. You would think the Lions would be stumbling over themselves to take a trade......

by ks1broncosfan on Apr 23, 2007 6:18 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Would love to trade up to #2

And I think the 21,56,86 and next year's 1st is a reasonable price. I'd even throw in next year's 4th rounder we got from Washington. But I just can't see Detroit dropping all the way down to 21. Detroit would have to have a deal in place to trade back up or Denver would have to trade up to Detroit's desired spot first. While Coach Shanahan has pulled off draft pick trade miracles before, it will be real tough to find a team that is (a) in the range Detroit wants to end up in and (b) is willing to drop down to 21 before the #2 pick is made.

Having said all that, here's my proposed 3 way trade. Denver gives up the #21, #56 and #86 along with their first rounder next year. In return they get the #2. Detroit gives up the #2 and the #101 to get the #11, #86 and Denver's first rounder next year. San Francisco gives up the #11 for the #21, #56 and #101. At 11 Detroit can take Patrick Willis and at 21 SF can take a quality WR without reaching.

by MattR on Apr 23, 2007 11:13 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

ow

my head hurts

-K TempesT
BroncoTalk

by K TempesT on Apr 24, 2007 9:18 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is fun.....

I actually had sights a little higher. Denver partners with a team for the third time in two years to pull off another three team deal. 21st, 56th and 70th to Atlanta for the eighth. Then sends the eighth and next years first and third to Detroit for the 2nd.

Would Atlanta be willing? They have been connected to multiple players in this draft, Branch, Okoye, Landry and Peterson. But this is only one pick. They have glaring needs at WR, DL and DB. They could fill many holes with multiple picks on day one. The real question is why don't they just make the trade to get CJ themselves? Too many holes.....

For the record, I would hate to see the Broncos mortgage the majority of the 07 draft and a significant part of 08 for one player. But I would not put it past Shanahan.

by ks1broncosfan on Apr 24, 2007 11:01 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs