Detroit traded wide receiver Larry Foster to Arizona on April…
Detroit traded wide receiver Larry Foster to Arizona on April 27, 2003 for the Cardinals' seventh-round selection, No. 220, which the Lions used on Blue Adams. Arizona obtained immediate receiver depth, while Detroit converted Foster into a fresh draft opportunity. The transaction was small, but the Lions extracted a usable asset instead of losing the player for nothing, creating a modest Detroit edge.
Detroit Lions Received
- pick 2003 seventh round pick (#220- Blue Adams )
Arizona Cardinals Received
- player Larry Foster
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Detroit sent Larry Foster to Arizona on April 27, 2003 and received the Cardinals' seventh-round selection, No. 220. The Lions used the pick on Blue Adams. This was a modest late-draft transaction built around roster turnover: Arizona chose a veteran receiver for immediate depth, while Detroit chose a future player acquisition through the draft. Detroit Lions Return Detroit's return was the No. 220 selection and the chance to add Adams. Seventh-round picks carry limited expected value, but obtaining one for a player the team was willing to move is still useful business. The Lions preserved an asset and converted it into another roster option, which is preferable to receiving no compensation when a veteran no longer fits the club's plans. Arizona Cardinals Return Arizona received Foster and avoided waiting on a late rookie to develop. That can be worthwhile when a team needs immediate depth, and the low draft cost makes the decision reasonable. The Cardinals did not surrender meaningful premium capital, so their side remains close to average. The limitation is that the veteran return did not create enough lasting value to overcome Detroit's retained draft flexibility. Value in Hindsight Because the stakes were small, the verdict should stay narrow. Detroit gained a pick and another roster chance, while Arizona gained a veteran at a low acquisition cost. Neither side found a star or altered its competitive direction. The Lions receive the edge because converting Foster into identifiable draft capital created slightly more durable value than the short-term depth Arizona obtained. Final Verdict Detroit earns a B- and Arizona a C+. The Lions successfully recycled a player into the No. 220 pick and added Blue Adams, while the Cardinals made a defensible low-cost move for Foster. The difference is modest but clear enough for a Detroit win, with both grades reflecting the limited scale of the transaction.