Scheffler trade could impact market for Olsen

They are not the same player, but if the Bears have any plans to engineer a draft-day trade for tight end Greg Olsen, they'd better hope the market for Tony Scheffler doesn't impact anything they hope to do.

Scheffler was sent packing from the Denver Broncos to the Detroit Lions on Monday in a three-way trade that also involved the Philadelphia Eagles. The Broncos sent Scheffler and a seventh-round draft pick to the Lions and in return received a fifth-round draft pick from the Eagles.
That's not much for a productive tight end who was once a top target for quarterback Jay Cutler. Scheffler didn't seem to mesh with coach Josh McDaniels and was rumored to be on his way out the door. The Broncos did a much better job getting value for wide receiver Brandon Marshall and, well, Cutler than they did Scheffler.

Scheffler, who has been in the league one more year than Olsen, caught 31 passes for 416 yards and two touchdowns last season. His biggest year came in 2007 when he made 49 receptions for 549 yards and five touchdowns. In four seasons, he has 138 catches for 1,896 yards and 14 scores. He's averaged 13.7 yards per reception.

In three years with the Bears, Olsen has 153 receptions for 1,577 yards and 15 touchdowns. His biggest season came last year when he made 60 catches for 612 yards and eight scores.

The Bears have an abundance of tight ends on the roster with Olsen, Desmond Clark, Brandon Manumaleuna, Kellen Davis, Richard Angulo and Kevin Brock. There has been some speculation that the team would use Olsen in an effort to get a pick in the top half of the second round. Judging by the Scheffler trade, that could be difficult to pull off, even if a team valued Olsen considerably more.

The trade improves the Lions, who shed a linebacker in Ernie Sims that didn't fit their scheme. Scheffler will help out on offense with Brandon Pettigrew, a first-round pick last season, working his way back from a torn ACL.

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(chicagobreaksports.com)