Detroit traded veteran quarterback Scott Mitchell to…
Detroit traded veteran quarterback Scott Mitchell to Baltimore for the 72nd pick in 1999 and a 2000 fifth-rounder. The Lions subsequently moved both selections in later transactions, preserving value without keeping either pick to draft a player directly. Baltimore added an experienced quarterback but also acquired Tony Banks that offseason, limiting Mitchell’s role. Neither side produced enough direct impact to create a decisive winner.
Baltimore Ravens Received
- player Scott Mitchell
Detroit Lions Received
- pick 1999 3rd round pick (72nd overall subsequently traded, Grey Ruegamer )
- pick 2000 5th round pick (150th overall subsequently traded, John Milem )
Trade Analysis
Why Baltimore Wanted a Veteran
Scott Mitchell arrived with substantial starting experience from Detroit and a career that eventually totaled 15,692 passing yards. Baltimore was entering Brian Billick’s first season and wanted veteran options at quarterback. The Ravens surrendered the 72nd pick in 1999 and a fifth-rounder in 2000, a meaningful price but not an extraordinary one for an experienced passer. The problem was that Mitchell never became the central answer in Baltimore.
What Detroit Received
Detroit gained two draft selections and maintained flexibility. The 72nd pick was later moved in another draft-day exchange, and the 2000 fifth-rounder was also traded later. Those downstream moves mean the Lions should be credited with receiving movable draft capital, not automatically with every player who eventually appeared at the end of each chain. The return therefore had value, but it did not produce a clean star-level outcome directly from this trade.
How Baltimore’s Quarterback Plan Shifted
The Ravens also acquired Tony Banks in 1999, and the quarterback room evolved quickly. Mitchell’s role became limited rather than foundational. Baltimore was not ruined by the deal, but spending two selections for a veteran who did not become the long-term starter reduced the return considerably. Detroit, meanwhile, did not turn the picks into a singular standout asset that would make the trade clearly one-sided.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Detroit earns a C+ for turning an aging quarterback into two useful draft assets and preserving roster flexibility. Baltimore receives a C because Mitchell provided veteran depth but did not justify a stronger grade through sustained starting production. Neither side extracted enough direct, lasting value to call this a major win, and the exchange ultimately reads as a modest reshuffling of assets.