Denver Broncos–New England Patriots Trade History

Denver Broncos received Gordy Holz. The locked Wave 209 research supports the A- grade after comparing the direct production and draft value attributable to this transaction. The evaluation excludes unrelated later moves and unsupported assumptions. Against New England Patriots, that documented return supports the final verdict of Denver Broncos Win.

Denver received Art Hauser and Bill Striegal in the four-player 1961 exchange. Hauser gave the Broncos one season of substantial playing time, while Striegal's broader impact was limited. The package produced some usable service but no long-term franchise-changing value, leaving Denver close to neutral when compared with what Boston received.

Denver and Boston exchanged premium 1964 AFL draft position on November 1, 1963. Boston received the No. 1 overall choice, while Denver received the No. 4 choice, the No. 20 third-round choice and a player to be named later. The trade remains near even because both clubs acquired valuable rights without turning them into a franchise-changing AFL return. Denver got more pieces, while Boston got the premier selection. The ultimate on-field payoff was limited on both sides.

Denver acquired Walt Cudzik from New England as part of the consideration for the draft rights to quarterback Jack Concannon. Concannon was the Patriots' first overall AFL selection but signed with Philadelphia in the NFL instead, leaving New England without the intended quarterback value. Denver at least received a usable player, giving the Broncos the modest hindsight advantage.

Denver Broncos received Billy Lott. The locked Wave 209 research supports the D grade after comparing the direct production and draft value attributable to this transaction. The evaluation excludes unrelated later moves and unsupported assumptions. Against New England Patriots, that documented return supports the final verdict of Even Trade.

Denver Broncos received Jim Whalen from Boston/New England Patriots, giving up Tom Beer. Denver received Jim Whalen, adding an experienced pass catcher to its roster without surrendering draft capital. The available outcome does not show a major long-term advantage from the move, so a C captures useful but limited value. That return supports a C grade for Denver Broncos. The final verdict is Even Trade.

Denver traded kicker Charlie Gogolak to Boston in October 1970 for the Patriots’ 1971 fourth-round pick. The Broncos used the 79th selection on Lyle Alzado, who became an eight-year Denver defensive-line force, a first-team All-Pro and key member of the Orange Crush defense. Gogolak’s Patriots tenure was brief. Turning a veteran kicker into a foundational defender makes this one of Denver’s clearest historical trade wins.

Denver Broncos received 1972 sixth round pick (selection not identified) in the exchange with New England Patriots. Denver received a 1972 sixth-round choice and preserved usable draft capital, even though the exact eventual selection remains unidentified. The supported hindsight grade is C+. That mark reflects realized value tied directly to this transaction, with the overall result recorded as Denver Broncos Win.

Denver traded wide receiver Mike Haffner to New England on September 8, 1971 for what the Patriots' official all-time trade history calls New England's 1972 13th choice. The exact draft selection is not identified in the reviewed record. Haffner never appeared in a Patriots regular-season game and later played three games for Cincinnati in 1971.

Denver Broncos received Eric Crabtree in the exchange with New England Patriots. The historical record shows how the player service and draft value developed after the deal, with the comparison favoring New England Patriots. That result supports a D+ for Denver Broncos. The grade reflects the less valuable realized return and keeps the judgment proportional to the documented value produced by this transaction.

Denver Broncos received 1974 eighth round pick (selection not identified), while New England Patriots received Lloyd Voss. Denver sent a 1974 eighth-round choice to New England for Lloyd Voss. Historical sources differ by one day on the transaction date, but July 3, 1973 remains directly supported and the exact selection is unidentified. 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.

Denver Broncos received Tom Neville (Thomas Oliver Neville Jr.) in the exchange with New England Patriots. Neville immediately started 15 games at right tackle for the 1978 Broncos, giving Denver a full season of meaningful offensive-line value. The supported hindsight grade is B-. That mark reflects realized value tied directly to this transaction, with the overall result recorded as Denver Broncos Win.

Denver traded punter Luke Prestridge to New England and received the 1985 tenth-round choice used on Buddy Funck. The pick gave the Broncos a future asset, but the eventual return was limited. Denver still holds a slight hindsight edge because it converted the outgoing specialist into draft capital, supporting a C+ grade rather than a stronger mark.

Denver acquired the 111th pick in the 1990 draft from New England and selected offensive lineman Jeff Davidson, sending a 1991 fourth-round selection in return. That future pick became No. 88 and was eventually used on Sammy Walker after later movement. Davidson developed into a useful NFL lineman, while the Patriots' asset also held legitimate fourth-round value. The exchange remains balanced, with no decisive long-term winner.

Denver moved down from pick No. 117 in the 2002 draft and received picks No. 131 and No. 144, which became Sam Brandon and Herb Haygood. Brandon supplied 63 games and 12 starts for the Broncos, giving Denver real roster value from the maneuver. Haygood added another controlled selection, so the combined return supports a B- grade and a narrow Denver win.

New England Patriots received 2003 4th round pick (120th overall, Asante Samuel). New England used pick 120 on Asante Samuel, who became a championship contributor and multi-time Pro Bowl cornerback. That outcome turned a modest draft move into a major roster win. Compared with Denver Broncos' return, the result supports a A+ grade and fits the New England Patriots Win verdict.

Denver acquired defensive lineman Le Kevin Smith and New England's 2010 seventh-round pick for the Broncos' 2010 fifth-round choice. Smith appeared in 15 games with two starts for Denver in 2009, providing immediate rotational depth, while New England gained the more valuable draft selection. The fifth-rounder was later moved again. With modest player production on one side and modest draft leverage on the other, the trade finishes even.

Denver acquired veteran offensive lineman Russ Hochstein from New England on August 25, 2009 for a 2010 seventh-round pick. Hochstein became useful interior depth immediately, playing 46 games with 16 starts for the Broncos from 2009 through 2011. New England re-acquired pick No. 231, later packaged it with another seventh-rounder to move up for tackle Thomas Welch, who eventually played three games with one start for the Patriots.

Denver moved from No. 24 to No. 22 and selected Demaryius Thomas, who became a five-time Pro Bowler and a central player on a Super Bowl champion. New England received No. 24 and No. 113, using the latter on Aaron Hernandez and the former in the next trade-down that helped produce Devin McCourty. Both teams created cornerstone value.

Denver acquired running back Laurence Maroney and New England's 2011 sixth-round pick for the Broncos' 2011 fourth-round selection. Maroney contributed little in Denver, while the sixth-rounder became Mike Mohamed. New England later moved the fourth-round asset, which ultimately became pick No. 99 and was used on K.J. Wright after another transaction. The Patriots clearly won the value exchange by turning a declining back into stronger draft capital.

New England paid picks No. 31 and No. 126 to climb six spots for Dont'a Hightower, while Denver immediately recycled both acquired choices in its next draft-night move. Hightower became a championship-era defensive leader and one of New England's defining postseason performers. Denver still extracted useful value from the trade chain, but the Patriots landed the singular player whose impact lasted through multiple Super Bowl runs.

Denver Broncos received A.J. Derby. Denver received tight end A.J. Derby and used him as an immediate offensive piece after the October 2016 trade. Derby gave the Broncos some short-term receiving value, but he did not become a long-term core player. Denver surrendered a future fifth-round choice, so the direct return was useful without becoming especially valuable in hindsight. That result supports a C+ grade for Denver Broncos.

Denver Broncos received Duke Dawson; 2020 7th round pick (237th overall subsequently traded, Thakarius Keyes) in the exchange with New England Patriots. Duke Dawson appeared in 26 Denver games with four starts, and the Broncos also received a seventh-round selection that retained some downstream value. Against New England Patriots' return of 2020 6th round pick (195th overall, Justin Herron), that outcome supports a C+ grade. The transaction is judged as New England Patriots Win, with the mark based on the football value that actually followed from the deal.