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2004 NFL offseason

The 2004 NFL offseason.

A chronological guide to the transactions and decisions surrounding the 2004 NFL offseason.

Open the full season →Every offseason by year

In the order it happened

The transaction timeline

The draft, major signings, trades and roster decisions are ordered chronologically. Complete draft boards, trade packages and free-agent jersey changes are embedded at the moment they happened.

  1. March 3 · Trade

    Champ Bailey and Clinton Portis swap star value →

    Denver and Washington exchanged an elite corner and an elite runner, with Washington also sending a second-round pick to resolve the positional value gap.

    The complete trade package is preserved beside this moment →

    00TradeMarch 3, 2004To DENDENBAILEY—20042NDround assetTo WASWASPORTIS—Champ Bailey for Clinton PortisDEN receives Champ Bailey, 2004 2nd-round pickWAS receives Clinton Portis3 original assets · 0 outcomes tracedOpen trade →

  2. March 16 · Trade

    Terrell Owens reaches Philadelphia through a three-team solution →

    After a disputed filing and an initial trade to Baltimore, arbitration produced a deal that sent Owens to the Eagles, Brandon Whiting to San Francisco and a pick to Baltimore.

    The complete trade package is preserved beside this moment →

    00TradeMarch 16, 2004To PHIPHIOWENS—To SFSFWHITING—To BAL2004PICKround assetTerrell Owens to PhiladelphiaPHI receives Terrell OwensSF receives Brandon WhitingBAL receives 2004 fifth-round pick3 original assets · 0 outcomes tracedOpen trade →

  3. April 24 · NFL Draft

    The Eli Manning–Philip Rivers swap crowns a landmark class →

    The draft-day quarterback exchange shared a first round with Ben Roethlisberger, Larry Fitzgerald, Sean Taylor, Vince Wilfork and Steven Jackson.

    The complete draft board is preserved beside this moment →

    Draft board

    2004 NFL

    01
    1

    First overall selection

    Eli Manning

    San Diego Chargers

    Open every pick

  4. April 24 · Trade

    Eli–Rivers draft swap →

    San Diego selected Eli Manning first despite his refusal to play there, then sent him to New York for Philip Rivers and three more picks.

    The complete trade package is preserved beside this moment →

    04TradeApril 24, 2004To NYGNYGMANNING10To LACLACRIVERS1720043RDround asset20051STround asset+1 assetsEli–Rivers draft swapNYG receives Rights: Eli Manning · No. 1LAC receives Rights: Philip Rivers · No. 4, 2004 third · No. 65, 2005 first · No. 12 + 1 more5 original assets · 4 outcomes tracedOpen trade →

  5. Training camp · Season setup

    Philadelphia's final offensive piece raises the NFC ceiling

    Owens gave Donovan McNabb the boundary receiver the Eagles had lacked through three consecutive conference-title losses.