Not long ago, a player trade was to the National Football League what yachts were to Middle America.
They were fun to think about, but hardly a practical investment, if not a complete waste of time. Not to say NFL minds can be stuck in their ways, but as time passed, it became easier to sail a yacht down the Mississippi than for two teams to agree on a player swap.
The great threat of injury upsetting the balance of a trade scared teams, and a tight salary- cap structure made trades too complicated. The only way football teams got better was through the draft, which took time. Beginning in 1993, football formed a free-agent market, but long gone are the days when a Reggie White became available on the free market to almost single-handedly lift a franchise.
“There’s 32 teams, so the talent is spread around,” said Ken Whisenhunt, the former Pittsburgh offensive coordinator who is the new coach of the Arizona Cardinals. “I think the biggest thing is people are doing a better job of identifying their own guys and figuring out how to keep those guys so they don’t get on the market.”
The gradual talent depletion of free agency might be close to bottoming out this year, when there was not even a Drew Brees or Edgerrin James available when the market opened late Thursday night.
The Broncos took one look at the free-agent market and decided to diversify their options. Yes, they will present their best pitch to free agents such as Atlanta defensive end Patrick Kerney and New England tight end Daniel Graham, who are scheduled to visit the Broncos’ Dove Valley headquarters today. Yes, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan again has the itch to move up on the draft board, as he did last season when he nabbed rookie quarterback Jay Cutler with the No. 11 overall pick.
But this year, perhaps more than any other, NFL teams are directing considerable energy into the trade market. Not surprisingly, the Broncos are leading the way. Hours before the trading period officially opened Thursday night, the Broncos completed what eventually will become a five-player deal with the Detroit Lions.
The Broncos will receive the Lions’ sixth-round draft pick and Dré Bly, a veteran cornerback who is a shy tackler, but has the bump-and-run cover skills coveted by new defensive boss Jim Bates. In exchange, the Broncos will send their leading rusher, Tatum Bell, starting right tackle George Foster and a fifth-round pick to the Lions.
Bell and Foster probably won’t be the only familiar names traded by the Broncos. Also on the block is quarterback Jake Plummer, who has drawn interest from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston.
In recent days, Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden has made the biggest push for Plummer, who would become veteran insurance in case starter Chris Simms does not return to form following his season-ending splenectomy in late September.
Moving Plummer might help the Broncos offset the roughly $2.8 million they took on to make the deal with the Lions. Bly will make $4.2 million next season to roughly $1.4 million combined for Foster and Bell. But with the league salary cap increasing to $109 million this year, the Broncos had financial room to maneuver.
“In years when there was a smaller cap, that would severely limit a team’s ability to trade a player,” said Boulder-based agent Tom Mills. “Now, because the cap has gone up so much in recent years, teams are able to absorb more and it frees up the ability to make more trades.”
When it comes to making trades, Shanahan has become the Billy Beane of football. Each of the Broncos’ starting cornerbacks has been acquired through trade. Besides Bly, otherworldly Champ Bailey was acquired prior to the 2004 season from Washington, along with a draft pick that turned out to be Bell, in exchange for 1,500-yard running back Clinton Portis.
That deal arguably was the NFL’s blockbuster trade of the past 15 years.
“I think that’s the one that really set these trades in motion these last few years,” Mills said. “Before that, if there was a trade, about all you would see was a second-tier veteran for a draft pick. That one involved two Pro Bowl players and kind of opened everybody’s eyes as to what could be done.”
There is the trade stamp of the Broncos. And there is the stamp, stamp, stamp of the Washington Redskins on free agency. Since Daniel Snyder bought the team in 1999 for a record $800 million, there hasn’t been a Tom, Dick, Deion Sanders or Antwaan Randle El he hasn’t coveted in the free-agent market.
“There are teams who love it every year,” San Diego general manager A.J. Smith said. “They say, ‘We have a budget and we’re ready and we can’t wait for March 2nd.’ They go out and get six guys. They don’t even want to bid with other teams. It’s a matter of style, a matter of philosophy.
“I chose to observe it because I believe in the draft, and handpick a few special free agents.”
Staff writer Mike Klis can be reached at 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.
Broncos’ wish list
PATRICK KERNEY
DE, Falcons
His defensive-line coach the past six years was Bill Johnson, who is now the Broncos’ D-line coach.
DANIEL GRAHAM
TE, New England
Former CU star has drawn interest from six other teams. Would compete with Stephen Alexander.
BRAD JOHNSON
QB, Vikings
May be more viable than higher-priced Jeff Garcia as the backup to second-year starter Jay Cutler.
THOMAS JONES
RB, Bears
Rushed for 2,545 yards past two years. Requesting trade. Jamal Lewis and Willis McGahee other RB possibilities.
Talent market
Through free agency or trade, NFL teams can get better in a hurry if they swing the right deals. NFL reporter Mike Klis ranks the top players at each position who figured to become available Thursday night:
Quarterback
1. Matt Schaub, Falcons
2. Jake Plummer, Broncos
3. Drew Bledsoe, Cowboys
4. Joey Harrington, Dolphins
5. Jeff Garcia, Eagles
Running back
1. Thomas Jones, Bears
2. Jamal Lewis, Ravens
3. Michael Turner, Chargers
4. Dominic Rhodes, Colts
5. Willis McGahee, Bills
Wide receiver
1. Donte’ Stallworth, Eagles
2. Randy Moss, Raiders
3. Keenan McCardell, Chargers
3. Kevin Curtis, Rams
Tight end
1. Daniel Graham, Patriots
2. Jerramy Stevens, Seahawks
Offensive linemen
1. Eric Steinbach, Bengals
2. Kris Dielman, Chargers
3. Leonard Davis, Cardinals
4. Cooper Carlisle, Broncos
Defensive end
1. *Dwight Freeney, Colts
2. *Justin Smith, Bengals
3. *Charles Grant, Saints
4. Patrick Kerney, Falcons
5. Dewayne White, Bucs
Defensive tackle
1. *Cory Redding, Lions
2. Michael Myers, Broncos
3. Robaire Smith, Titans
Linebacker
1. Adalius Thomas, Ravens
2. *Lance Briggs, Bears
3. Cato June, Colts
4. Joey Porter, Steelers
Cornerbacks
1. Nate Clements, Bills
2. *Asante Samuel, Patriots
3. Dré Bly, Lions
4. Nick Harper, Colts
Safety
1. Deon Grant, Jaguars
2. Ken Hamlin, Seahawks
Kicker
1. *Josh Brown, Seahawks
2. Jay Feely, Giants
Punter
1. Todd Sauerbrun, Patriots
* Players with franchise tags, which makes it likely they will stay put.
