Tatum Bell

Denver acquired Dre' Bly and 2007 6th round pick (176th overall subsequently traded, Rufus Alexander) from Detroit Lions for Tatum Bell, George Foster and 2007 5th round pick (158th overall, Johnny Baldwin). This was primarily a draft-position exchange, with Denver reshaping its pick stack rather than adding an established player. The grades stay conservative because the historical value depends on how the selected players developed after the swap.

Denver traded Clinton Portis to Washington for Champ Bailey and a second-round pick, turning a star running back into a Hall of Fame cornerback and extra draft capital. This is one of the defining player-for-player wins of the modern NFL. Portis remained productive in Washington, but Bailey became a Hall of Fame cornerback, perennial Pro Bowler, and the centerpiece of Denver's secondary for a decade. The trade also reflected smart roster economics: Denver moved a running back seeking a major payday for a premium defensive player at a harder-to-find position.