Denver Broncos received Dre' Bly and 2007 6th round pick…
Denver Broncos received Dre' Bly and 2007 6th round pick (176th overall subsequently traded, Rufus Alexander). Denver received Dre' Bly and a sixth-round pick. Bly supplied two seasons as a regular starter in the Broncos secondary, giving Denver the most substantial direct player contribution in the exchange. Bly's two starting seasons gave Denver the clearest realized value, so the existing Broncos win remains well supported after the bundled assets are separated. That outcome supports a B grade for Denver Broncos.
Denver Broncos Received
- player Dre' Bly
- pick 2007 6th round pick (176th overall subsequently traded, Rufus Alexander )
Detroit Lions Received
- player Tatum Bell
- player George Foster
- pick 2007 5th round pick (158th overall, Johnny Baldwin )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 2007-03-02, Denver Broncos received Dre' Bly and 2007 6th round pick (176th overall subsequently traded, Rufus Alexander), while Detroit Lions received Tatum Bell, George Foster, and 2007 5th round pick (158th overall, Johnny Baldwin). Team and player records support the package. The comparison focuses on value each club controlled after the exchange.
Denver Broncos Return
Denver Broncos received Dre' Bly and 2007 6th round pick (176th overall subsequently traded, Rufus Alexander). Denver received Dre' Bly and a sixth-round pick. Bly supplied two seasons as a regular starter in the Broncos secondary, giving Denver the most substantial direct player contribution in the exchange. Bly's two starting seasons gave Denver the clearest realized value, so the existing Broncos win remains well supported after the bundled assets are separated. That outcome supports a B grade for Denver Broncos. The grade reflects the practical return created for this franchise rather than merely the name attached to a pick after later movement.
Detroit Lions Return
Detroit Lions received Tatum Bell, George Foster, and 2007 5th round pick (158th overall, Johnny Baldwin). Detroit received Tatum Bell, George Foster, and a fifth-round pick. Bell and Foster produced shorter and less valuable Lions tenures than Bly did in Denver, while the draft return did not close the gap. Bly's two starting seasons gave Denver the clearest realized value, so the existing Broncos win remains well supported after the bundled assets are separated. That outcome supports a C- grade for Detroit Lions. This side is judged on the value it actually controlled after the trade, including documented playing time and clearly traceable use of acquired selections.
Value in Hindsight
Bly's two starting seasons gave Denver the clearest realized value, so the existing Broncos win remains well supported after the bundled assets are separated. The comparison gives the most weight to regular-season contribution, starting value, and clearly documented conversion of acquired draft capital. Later selections by another holder are useful for tracing a pick, but they are not treated as on-field production for a club that had already moved the asset.
Final Verdict
The final call is Denver Broncos Win. Denver Broncos earns B, and Detroit Lions earns C-. Those grades match the supported package and the relative football value each side ultimately realized, without overstating the exchange or assigning another club's later player outcome to the wrong team.