Eagles, Lions Winners As Broncos Losers (Again) in Three-Way Deal

As NFL teams continue to move players via trade leading up to Thursday's draft, the Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos pull off the first three-way trade of the offseason.

• Philadelphia receives linebacker Ernie Sims.
• Detroit receives tight end Tony Scheffler and a seventh-round pick from Denver.
• Denver acquires Philadelphia's fifth-round pick.

Denver, however, were losers yet again, only acquiring a fifth-round pick from the Eagles. This is a week after sending star receiver Brandon Marshall to the Dolphins for a second-round pick in the 2010 and 2011 Draft.

I love this trade for the Eagles, as Ernie Sims has always been an underrated linebacker in my eyes. He will line up alongside Stewart Bradley and Akeem Jordan. This trade took care of their top need, although they could still use depth behind Jordan.

"Ernie Sims is an impact player at the linebacker position," said Eagles head coach Andy Reid, praising the former ninth overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.

He will fit right in with the Eagles defense that struggled for much of last season.

For the Lions, I don't quite understand this trade. Yes, this gives quarterback Matthew Stafford another option in the passing game, but they already have an up-and-coming star tight end in 2009's 20th overall pick Brandon Pettigrew.   

So for this team to lose starting linebacker Ernie Sims for a backup tight end doesn't quite make since to me.