Miami acquired quarterback Joey Harrington from Detroit for a…
Miami acquired quarterback Joey Harrington from Detroit for a conditional 2007 sixth-round pick that escalated to a fifth-rounder after Harrington reached the required playing-time threshold. Miami received functional short-term quarterback play, but Detroit had greater leverage value because it converted an unwanted former starter into a fifth-round choice.
Detroit Lions Received
- pick Conditional 2007 draft pick that escalated to a 5th round pick (145th overall, subsequently traded)
Miami Dolphins Received
- player Joey Harrington
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Miami acquired quarterback Joey Harrington from Detroit for a conditional 2007 sixth-round pick that escalated to a fifth-rounder after Harrington reached the required playing-time threshold. At the time, each club had a practical roster reason for acting, and the price was small enough or targeted enough to make the exchange understandable before the later results were known.
What the Returns Produced
Harrington started 11 games for Miami in 2006, went 5-6, and threw for 2,236 yards with 12 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He provided needed insurance but remained only one season. Detroit recovered a fifth-round asset for a quarterback it had already decided to move on from, a modest but useful return that avoided releasing Harrington for nothing. Looking only at the names exchanged on the transaction date misses part of the story, because actual playing time, role, longevity and any later use of draft capital determine how much football value each side ultimately created.
How the Value Developed
Miami received functional short-term quarterback play, but Detroit had greater leverage value because it converted an unwanted former starter into a fifth-round choice. The longer view matters most here: a short burst of production can still justify a modest acquisition cost, while a draft choice can become more valuable when it is converted into a durable starter or additional selections.
Why This Trade Still Matters
This deal is a useful reminder that trade value should follow the complete return rather than stop at the first transaction line. Later pick movement, roster tenure and meaningful postseason or starting contributions all belong in the comparison. That approach gives both teams credit for what their assets actually became instead of grading only the original labels.
Final Verdict
Detroit Lions Win is the best fit. Detroit Lions earns a B, while Miami Dolphins earns a C+. Those marks account for the cost paid, the direct production received, the length of each contribution and any important downstream draft value. The gap is intentionally narrow when both sides found useful returns and wider when one club received little lasting football value.