There were some major trades this offseason that can shake the landscape in PTF. Those are the ones I consider myself major, some others may be warranted as such by fellow GMs, and then feel free to discuss in the topic.
The first big one is the trade between the Broncos and the Vikings. Here how it ended:
Broncos sent:
- QB Peyton Manning
- WR Todd Kinchen
- DT Chris Ovan
- 2007 7th Rd
- 2007 5th RD
Viking sent:
- Qb Vince Young
- DT Albert Haynesworth
- WR Dante Ridgeway
- QB Adrian McPherson
- 5th rd Viking 2006
- 2007 49ers first rd
- 2008 1st rd
- 2008 2nd rd
- 2008 3rd rd
This trade made some waves around the league. As for myself it looked hefty at first sight because we always have in mind what the Colts received last year in exchange for Manning. As so, what the deal states is that the Colts should have gotten more. But then there are some point we have to take into account when we look at fair value in this hobby of ours:
1) the cap situation: undervalued deals can come often to be strangled by the cap and better getting things than nothing if we have to cut the player
2) the negotiator talent of each GM, and in this I also add the will to get the more of a selling or the under of a buy. That doesn't put the flag on a GM, that means that some GMs are great brokers and others just prefer to go with the flow
3) the willingness to add a player for man crush purposes or strategic purposes: some GMs (and I do) are sometimes keen to do like the Saints did in NFL for Ricky Williams. And that's just fine to me.
This said, how can we analyze and grade the trade?
First, I think we can divide the trade in two blocks - and those are the blocks for me, some may agree otherwise: - First block: Manning for 49ers 1st, 2008 1st and second and third + McPherson
- Second block: Kinchen + Hovan + 2008 5th and 7th for HAynesworth + Ridgway + 5th 2007
The second block to me is where the Broncos have clearly the edge. I like Better Haynesworth than Ovan and Ridgeway is an excellent deep threat that was brought in the Randy Moss blockbuster trade in 2006. Sure, they still have Marshall, but with Manning now in Minny, Ridgeway could have been moved between the 2nd to 4th spot and be a constant mismatch to CBs. Kinchen is after thought.
The first block is where I see it even -slightly- because Manning is still 31 and with his stats and signed reasonably for the next 3 years, the Vikings have the best in the league at QB. The third is a bit too much.
Now that is said what of it?
The Vikings clearly delt the future for a SB win chance in the next 3 seasons. They witnessed firsthand what Manning can do with a stack roster and that what the Vikings have now. In this I don't mind overpaying a tad for Manning. The Vikings with the state of the defense are also betting on better winning a shootout with Manning than old McNair or Vince young who would need 3 to 4 seasons before reaching Manning level - if not more.
I like the all-in because they can still reasonably benefit from having Walter Jones and Bryant McKinnie before dealing them due to cap restraint. The SB win or bust with Manning strategy is what fits the current state of their roster and cap room.
As for the Broncos, every GMs and I included thought AF just blew away a chance to repeat or even threepeat that would have make history. I suspect AF is wanting to make history repeating the SB win BUT ALSO with a sophomore QB. And he has the tools for it: a very strong defense, a bruising HB and a 3 headed monster WR corps with Gaffney, Brown and now Ridgeway. The only flaw to me is the overall quality of the OL with real talent but raw still.
He also plays for the future with Young who will be one of the Marquee QBs when he reaches the 90 AWR threshold ; and that could be soon because there's no need at the moment to invest in THA.
Thus, considering the state of the rosters, the mentality of both GM my grade is Broncos A+ and Vikings A- due to the value difference of block 2 of the trade as I pointed out.
If I give a grade according to my own GM attitude, I still give A+ to the Broncos and B- to the Vikings because I always try to have in mind the future of the franchise I manage, even if I am on the hot seat.
All in all I am glad Manning is not in my division anymore, and not in the conference, even if the Broncos will still be a pain in the ass because there will always be downfield throws by Young to Brown and Ridgeway that will be homeruns more often than not.
The next trade is the one between the Eagles and the Bears :
The Bears sent :
- CB Devin Hester
- Jaguars 1st in 2007
- Cowboys 2nd in 2007
The Eagles sent :
- CB Champ Bailey
- Cowboys 4th in 2007
- Eagles 5th in 2007
I know the Eagles have the cap situation as tight as someone who ate a spicy Chinese meal in need of a dunking one with no bathroom nor bush at disposal, but to me the Bears have won the deal even if Champ Bailey will need to be resigned next season, the Bears can create Cap room to keep him. The Eagles are losing a perennial shutdown corner who would have been a deciding factor against the Vikings and Manning. I would have dealt Lito Sheppard instead.
I don't feel the return is way off for the Eagles, just that strategically it makes no sense to me when you have a team to push for the SB. So, B for the Eagles.
I give an A for the Bears and not A+ because of the need to resign Champ and to be creative with the cap next season. The Bears with this deal - and with others as a matter of fact - are showing that the NFC North is going to be a 3 teams race between them, the Vikings and the Lions, because even if Bears’ QB is Aaron Rodgers and still raw, I give the benefit of the doubt to Garth, because he knows his ways in a Madden league.
And the last one is the trade between the Patriots and the Panthers :
Panthers sent :
- CB Sheldon Brown
- Patriots 2nd 2007
- Broncos 4th 2007
Patriots sent :
- Patriots 1st 2007
- Panthers 2nd 2007
To tell it bluntly : I don't like the trade for the Panthers. Here I feel it is more lopsided than the trade for Manning, because even if Brown is not Champ Bailey, he is still young enough and with decent AWR to reward more. To me the 2 picks sent by the Panthers are too much, and to be fair, the Patriots should have sent a future 2nd or equivalent. A C grade for the Panthers, because they have the cap room, and a veteran CB due to this young team and still improving QB is a must in my philosophy.
A A+ for the Patriots because the solidified their secondary, and pose themselves as the AFC favorite now that Manning is in the AFC. They solidified what was maybe their less strong spot with another great starting CB now that Woodson is on the wrong side of progression.
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