Detroit Lions–Philadelphia Eagles Trade History

Detroit received Dave Smukler for Ray George and Joe Wendlick in April 1940. Smukler did not play a regular-season game for the Lions after the trade; biographical material places his departure from pro football around his military service. Philadelphia, meanwhile, got nine games and two starts from Wendlick plus two appearances from George, leaving Detroit without a realized roster return.

Philadelphia sent veteran quarterback Roy Zimmerman to Detroit in July 1947 for tackle Jim Kekeris and the rights to center Charles Hoover. Kekeris appeared in 10 games with two starts for the Eagles, while Hoover never played an NFL game. Zimmerman started seven games for Detroit, threw for 867 yards and seven touchdowns, and handled substantial kicking duties, giving the Lions the stronger realized return.

Philadelphia traded Lindell Pearson to Detroit on August 17, 1950, for the Lions’ 1951 first-round pick, which became No. 8 overall and was used on Chet Mutryn. Pearson gave Detroit 10 games and one start in 1950. Mutryn had already completed his professional playing career by the time Philadelphia drafted him in 1951, leaving the Eagles with no on-field return from a premium selection.

Philadelphia acquired veteran quarterback Fred Enke from Detroit for the rights to Oregon State rookie end John Thomas. The Eagles' own 1952 media guide explicitly describes the consideration as Thomas's rights, not an established Lions player. Enke appeared in nine games for Philadelphia, throwing for 377 yards and one touchdown. Thomas, Philadelphia's seventh-round pick, has no recorded NFL career. The Eagles received modest real value and the Lions did not.

Detroit received Walt Kowalczyk and Philadelphia's 1961 fifth-round choice, which became tackle Ron Puckett at No. 70. Neither produced a Detroit regular-season appearance: Kowalczyk played for Dallas in 1960, while Puckett never logged an NFL game. Philadelphia's Jerry Reichow appeared in all 12 games for the 1960 championship Eagles, giving Philadelphia the modest but clear C-to-D hindsight edge.

Detroit Lions received rights to Leo Sugar from Philadelphia Eagles in the 1962-10-14 trade. Detroit obtained the rights to Leo Sugar. Philadelphia Eagles's return was 1963 third round pick (#40-Louis Guy). Philadelphia's acquired third-round pick became Louis Guy at No. 40. Those realized outcomes, rather than the labels on the assets alone, drive the hindsight grade.

Detroit Lions received 1964 third round pick (#30-Pat Batten) in the deal with Philadelphia Eagles. Batten played only three games for Detroit and did not start. The third-round return therefore produced very little direct Lions value. That outcome supports a D for Detroit Lions. The Philadelphia Eagles Win verdict weighs documented games, starts, production and connected draft value.

Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles completed this exchange on 1964-04-10. Detroit Lions received J.D. Smith, while Philadelphia Eagles received Floyd Peters and Ollie Matson. The historical sources agree on the core package and transaction identity. In hindsight, Even allowing for a one-day date variance in retrospective sources, the player package is consistent. Peters's Philadelphia peak creates a decisive hindsight advantage for the Eagles. The final grades are D for Detroit Lions and A+ for Philadelphia Eagles, producing a Philadelphia Eagles Win verdict.

Philadelphia purchased Jim Kearney from Detroit on August 14, 1967, but released him less than a month later. The Eagles therefore received little regular-season value from the acquisition, while Detroit at least collected the cash consideration. Kearney later became a useful NFL player elsewhere, but that later career does not rescue Philadelphia's side of this specific transaction.

Detroit Lions received Len Persin from Philadelphia Eagles in the 1970-05-11 trade. Detroit acquired Len Persin, whose Lions tenure did not produce a comparable documented regular-season contribution. Philadelphia Eagles's return was 1971 tenth round pick (#256-Tom Bailey (b)). Philadelphia used the 1971 tenth-round pick on Tom Bailey. Those realized outcomes, rather than the labels on the assets alone, drive the hindsight grade.

Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles exchanged Chuck Hughes for Robert Parker (a) / Bob Parker. Detroit received the only meaningful post-trade production. The difference is straightforward. In hindsight, Detroit Lions produced the stronger realized return, with the grade based on actual post-trade service and traceable downstream value rather than the nominal asset label alone.

Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles exchanged 1971 sixth round pick (#150-Frank Harris) for Denis Moore. Moore gave Philadelphia a very small amount of direct service. Philadelphia can point to two games from Moore; Detroit can point to the draft opportunity. In hindsight, neither side created a meaningful advantage, so the exchange remains even after weighing actual post-trade service rather than the names or nominal asset types involved.

Philadelphia acquired running back Larry Watkins from Detroit on October 6, 1970 for a 1971 second-round pick. Watkins became useful Eagles depth, playing 37 games with nine starts over three seasons and rushing for 456 yards. Detroit secured premium draft capital for a player who had been a part-time contributor. The exact downstream identity of the pick is disputed in surviving transaction records, so the grade does not depend on naming a specific draftee.

Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles completed this trade on 1971-01-28. Barton did not establish himself as Philadelphia's answer at quarterback and soon left the NFL for Canada. Detroit captured three premium or useful draft assets from a player who delivered almost no Eagles regular-season value. The post-trade results provide the clearest measure of what each club gained from the exchange. The historical return supports a Detroit Lions Win verdict, with Detroit Lions graded A- and Philadelphia Eagles graded D+.

Detroit Lions received Bill Cappleman from Philadelphia Eagles in the 1971-09-29 trade. Philadelphia used the 1972 third-round selection on Tom Luken at No. 68. Philadelphia Eagles's return was 1972 third round pick (#68-Tom Luken). Detroit acquired quarterback Bill Cappleman. Those realized outcomes, rather than the labels on the assets alone, drive the hindsight grade.

Philadelphia received defensive back Willie Germany for center Mike Evans, but neither acquisition turned into regular-season NFL value for the new club. Germany does not appear in Philadelphia's 1974 NFL record, while Evans' NFL career ends with the Eagles in 1973 despite Detroit listing him as an offseason acquisition. With both returns producing zero regular-season games, this is an even D-minus result.

Philadelphia sent franchise great Wilbert Montgomery to Detroit for linebacker Garry Cobb in August 1985. Cobb became the more durable post-trade piece, providing multiple seasons of defensive work for the Eagles. Montgomery contributed seven games, six starts and 251 rushing yards for Detroit in 1985, but his late-career Lions stint was brief. The exchange therefore favored Philadelphia, which moved an aging back and received the younger, longer-lasting contributor.

Philadelphia acquired veteran tight end Jimmie Giles from Detroit for the 1988 ninth-round pick at No. 234. Giles gave the Eagles 40 games and six starts from 1987 through 1989, catching 29 passes for 377 yards and four touchdowns. Detroit used No. 234 on tackle Todd Irvin, who never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. That is a clear realized-value gap: Philadelphia received three seasons of usable depth, while Detroit’s draft return produced no NFL playing time.

Philadelphia sent Detroit the 137th pick in the 1999 draft and received the Lions’ 2000 fourth-rounder, No. 111. Detroit used the immediate choice on Tyree Talton, who played only 12 NFL games. Philadelphia later flipped No. 111 to San Diego for a 2001 third-round pick and selected Derrick Burgess, turning a fifth-rounder into a productive pass rusher and a much stronger long-term return.

Multi-team transaction also involving Denver Broncos.

Denver Broncos received the 2010 fifth-round pick at No. 137 in the 2010-04-19 exchange involving Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles. Denver converted Scheffler and a seventh-round choice into pick No. 137, which became Perrish Cox. Cox started nine games as a rookie for the Broncos, while his later production with other teams does not add value to Denver's side. That realized return supports a C+ grade for Denver Broncos. The overall verdict is Detroit Lions Win, with the grade based on direct value created from this transaction.

Philadelphia traded a future sixth-round pick to Detroit for the 220th choice in 2010 and selected linebacker Jamar Chaney. Chaney became an immediate contributor, starting 23 games for the Eagles across three seasons and recording 92 tackles with three interceptions in 2011. Detroit later used the future pick in another transaction, but Philadelphia received the stronger direct football value from the original exchange.

Detroit traded a 2016 third-round pick to Philadelphia to move into the 2015 fourth round for defensive tackle Gabe Wright at No. 113. The future pick became No. 77, and Philadelphia later included it in the massive package sent to Cleveland to move up for Carson Wentz. Wright had a short stay in Detroit. The Eagles therefore turned a fourth-round exit into materially greater strategic value.

Detroit Lions received 2019 3rd round pick (88th overall subsequently traded, Cody Barton) in the exchange with Philadelphia Eagles. Detroit used the acquired third-round slot in a move up for Will Harris, who went on to appear in 81 Lions games with 40 starts. Against Philadelphia Eagles' return of Golden Tate, that outcome supports a B+ grade. The transaction is judged as Detroit Lions Win, with the mark based on the football value that actually followed from the deal.

Philadelphia acquired Darius Slay for third- and fifth-round picks. Slay became a multi-year No. 1 cornerback, earned additional Pro Bowl recognition, and helped lead a defense that reached the Super Bowl. Detroit received pick value that did not develop into comparable impact, making the modest acquisition cost especially favorable for the Eagles.

Philadelphia traded picks 188 and 237 to Detroit to move up seven spots to No. 181 for linebacker Kyron Johnson. Detroit stayed in the sixth round and selected Malcolm Rodriguez at No. 188, then used No. 237 on Chase Lucas. Rodriguez quickly became a useful Lions linebacker and special-teams contributor, while Johnson had a limited Eagles tenure. Detroit gained the best player while also adding an extra selection.

Detroit Lions received 2023 7th round pick (219th overall, Antoine Green); 2025 4th round pick (134th overall; subsequently traded by Detroit) in the 2023-04-29 exchange with Philadelphia Eagles. Antoine Green produced little offensive value, and the future fourth-round selection later moved again rather than becoming a comparable direct Lions contributor. The direct return and the football value it produced drive the hindsight judgment. Against the assets Detroit Lions surrendered, the result supports Philadelphia Eagles Win and a C+ grade for Detroit Lions.

Detroit moved into the fourth round at No. 132 in 2024 and also received No. 210, selecting Sione Vaki and Christian Mahogany. The Lions paid Nos. 164 and 201 plus a 2025 fourth-round choice. Detroit converted later capital into two players who fit its physical roster identity, with Mahogany in particular developing into meaningful offensive-line value.