We gave you the details on the three-way trade that sent Tony Scheffler to Detroit and Ernie Sims to Philadelphia. Now let’s try to figure out what it all means.
1. The Lions were really down on Ernie Sims. The Florida State product once looked like a future Pro Bowler, but he struggled with injuries last year. There is concern he will never hold up in run support, and his play began to decline in 2008. They weren’t going to give him a long-term deal.
2. The Eagles have a lot of questions at linebacker and not much depth, as we pointed out in our team needs recap. Adding Sims for a fifth-round pick was a low-risk move and fits what the Eagles do.
3. The Lions may have some concerns about tight end Brandon Pettigrew’s recovery from ACL surgery. More likely, the Lions were intrigued by Scheffler’s ability to take over games and create mismatch problems.
The Broncos didn’t love Scheffler’s work habits, but he now gives Matthew Stafford another weapon on an offense that needs them. Scheffler and Pettigrew may be the most intriguing young tight end combination in the league.
4. Denver did fine in the Brandon Marshall trade. Not so much here.
5. The Bengals must not have wanted Scheffler, because they had two fourth-round picks.
6. Denver’s first three picks from their famed ’06 draft class are all ex-Broncos. (Jay Cutler, Scheffler, Brandon Marshall.) Elvis Dumervil, watch your back.