Ricky Hunley

Denver acquired Mike Ruether from Arizona/St. Louis Cardinals for Ricky Hunley. Denver swapped Ricky Hunley for Mike Ruether, a direct player-value trade with limited evidence of a major long-term swing. The grades remain modest because the available record supports a useful roster exchange, not a clear franchise-changing win.

Denver acquired rights to Ricky Hunley from Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for 1986 first round pick (#21-Tim McGee); third round pick (Buccaneers 1985 third round pick or Broncos 1986 third round pick) (1986 #78-David Fulcher); 1987 fifth round pick (#139-Greg Horne (b)). Denver surrendered a first-round pick (Tim McGee, an eventual Pro Bowl receiver for Cincinnati) along with other selections for linebacker rights who never fully justified the investment. Hunley was eventually traded back to the Cardinals for essentially nothing. The Bengals used the return picks wisely, making this a losing deal for Denver despite the Super Bowl era context.