Robert Ayers

Denver moved Jay Cutler and a fifth-round pick to Chicago after the quarterback relationship deteriorated, receiving Kyle Orton and a package that included two first-round picks and a third-rounder. Denver wrung strong value from an untenable quarterback situation. Cutler gave Chicago legitimate starting-caliber play but never became the franchise-elevating answer the Bears hoped for, while Denver extracted Kyle Orton and multiple premium picks from a broken relationship. The Broncos did not perfectly convert every asset, but the trade return itself was substantial enough to favor Denver in hindsight.