Denver Broncos–Detroit Lions Trade History

Denver acquired tackle Roger Shoals from Detroit for linebacker Carl Cunningham on May 7, 1971. Shoals immediately became a full-season starter for the Broncos, giving Denver dependable offensive-line value. Detroit did not come away empty-handed: Cunningham was later moved to New Orleans for a 1973 fourth-round pick. Denver still gets the edge because it received the more direct and immediate starting contribution.

Denver traded Jimmie Jones to Detroit for Al Barnes on August 20, 1974. Barnes was released by the Broncos before producing regular-season value, while Jones played all 14 games for the Lions and returned 38 kickoffs for 927 yards in addition to offensive work. That sharp post-trade difference makes Detroit the clear winner.

Denver Broncos received 1975 ninth round pick (possibly #229-Gordon Riegel/Gordy Riegel) from Detroit Lions, while Detroit Lions received Leroy Mitchell in the 1974-08-29 deal. In hindsight, Denver Broncos's return did not separate far enough from Detroit Lions to justify a higher grade. The final grades are C for Denver Broncos and C for Detroit Lions, producing a verdict of Even Trade. The rating reflects the documented package, the certainty of the consideration, and the football value that can actually be assigned in hindsight.

Denver Broncos received Chuck Walton, while Detroit Lions received Bill Laskey. Detroit sent guard Chuck Walton to Denver for linebacker Bill Laskey. Player histories show both veterans' NFL playing careers had effectively ended by the time of the exchange, leaving little realized value. The supported history provides enough detail to judge the exchange without overstating uncertain downstream information. Denver Broncos earns a C- grade, and the overall verdict is Even Trade.

Detroit received 1978 fourth- and sixth-round picks; Denver received Herman Weaver. Detroit received two 1978 draft choices for veteran punter Herman Weaver. Denver released Weaver before the 1977 regular season, and he subsequently handled Seattle's punting duties, leaving the Broncos without regular-season value from the acquisition. The hindsight grades are D for Denver Broncos and B for Detroit Lions, producing a Detroit Lions Win verdict.

Denver acquired Charlie West and a 1979 sixth-round pick that became No. 148 Jeff McIntyre from Detroit in August 1978. The Broncos sent Bill Gay plus rights tied to two of the first five Denver players waived by August 29. The resulting waiver identities are not identified in surviving transaction material. Neither side's known return produced enough lasting value to separate the deal.

Detroit acquired offensive lineman Mike Montler from Denver, while the Broncos received the future 1980 eighth-round pick that became No. 196 and Ken Walter. Montler supplied immediate line value for the Lions, whereas Denver's late selection produced limited direct return. The gap is modest because the pick still had value, but Detroit realized the stronger football outcome.

Denver received a 1981 twelfth-round selection plus past considerations connected to the earlier Mike Montler transaction. The unusual wording is part of the historical deal rather than missing information, but the record does not show a substantial long-term football payoff from Denver's side. With only late-round and prior consideration involved, the Broncos' realized return stays modest.

Denver Broncos received rights to Kip Corrington from Detroit Lions in the 1988-05-13 trade. Denver acquired the rights to safety Kip Corrington. Detroit Lions's return was conditional future draft choice (round/selection not identified). Denver's historical transaction record describes the consideration as a conditional undisclosed future draft choice, not a ninth-round pick. Those realized outcomes, rather than the labels on the assets alone, drive the hindsight grade.

Denver acquired veteran offensive tackle Harvey Salem from Detroit on October 8, 1991 for a 1992 third-round selection. Salem's Broncos tenure was short and did not develop into a major long-term contribution. Detroit gained meaningful draft capital for the veteran, but the resulting asset also failed to become a major franchise piece, leaving limited realized value on both sides.

Denver traded return specialist Glyn Milburn to Detroit for the 55th pick and a seventh-rounder. Milburn gave the Lions two strong seasons as a returner, including 1,627 kickoff-return yards in 1996. Denver then flipped No. 55 to Baltimore for three picks, one of which became Pro Bowl special-teamer Detron Smith. Both clubs gained useful value, but Denver's downstream return helped support two championship rosters.

Denver Broncos received Dre' Bly and 2007 6th round pick (176th overall subsequently traded, Rufus Alexander). Denver received Dre' Bly and a sixth-round pick. Bly supplied two seasons as a regular starter in the Broncos secondary, giving Denver the most substantial direct player contribution in the exchange. Bly's two starting seasons gave Denver the clearest realized value, so the existing Broncos win remains well supported after the bundled assets are separated. That outcome supports a B grade for Denver Broncos.

Denver used the acquired No. 174 selection on quarterback Tom Brandstater. He did not appear in a regular-season NFL game, leaving the Broncos with little realized value from the higher pick they obtained. The D+ grade reflects that limited return, especially compared with Zack Follett's contribution for Detroit and the additional future fifth-round selection included on the Lions' side.

Multi-team transaction also involving Philadelphia Eagles.

Denver Broncos received the 2010 fifth-round pick at No. 137 in the 2010-04-19 exchange involving Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles. Denver converted Scheffler and a seventh-round choice into pick No. 137, which became Perrish Cox. Cox started nine games as a rookie for the Broncos, while his later production with other teams does not add value to Denver's side. That realized return supports a C+ grade for Denver Broncos. The overall verdict is Detroit Lions Win, with the grade based on direct value created from this transaction.

Denver Broncos received Dan Gronkowski and 2011 6th round pick (186th overall subsequently traded, D.J. Smith). Denver received Dan Gronkowski and a 2011 sixth-round choice. The package supplied only modest direct value, and neither piece matched the defensive production Detroit received from Alphonso Smith. Compared with Detroit Lions' return, the result supports a C- grade and fits the Detroit Lions Win verdict.

Denver moved from No. 28 to No. 23 in 2015 for Shane Ray, sending Detroit guard-center Manny Ramirez, No. 28, No. 143 and a 2016 fifth-rounder. Ray never became a long-term star but contributed to the Super Bowl 50 champion defense and recorded 14 sacks in four Broncos seasons. Detroit gained volume, yet its return produced no comparable franchise-changing payoff.

Denver traded wide receiver Trinity Benson and a 2023 sixth-round pick to Detroit for a 2022 fifth-rounder and a conditional 2022 seventh. The seventh did not convey, but the fifth-round asset still gave Denver meaningful draft value. Benson produced only 10 receptions for 103 yards across nine Lions games, so Detroit paid a future pick for limited on-field return and lost the exchange decisively.

Denver acquired picks No. 63 and 183, selecting Marvin Mims Jr. and JL Skinner, while Detroit received No. 68 and a fifth-round pick later moved to Arizona. Mims became a two-time All-Pro returner in his first two seasons and added more than 1,200 receiving yards through 2025. Detroit's Hendon Hooker barely played before leaving the organization, giving Denver a clear win.

Detroit moved from No. 60 to No. 57 in the 2025 second round and also received No. 230, sending Denver Nos. 60 and 130. The Lions selected Tate Ratledge, who started all 17 games at right guard as a rookie; Denver selected RJ Harvey, who produced 896 scrimmage yards and 12 total touchdowns. Both primary players delivered immediately, so the earlier wide grade gap is narrowed to an Even Trade with B grades.