Denver Broncos–New Orleans Saints Trade History

Denver Broncos received 1973 fifth round pick (#106-Dave Reavis), while New Orleans Saints received John Huard. Denver received New Orleans' 1973 fifth-round choice, later No. 106, and subsequently moved that selection to Pittsburgh in the Lloyd Voss transaction. John Huard appeared in only one game for New Orleans, so the Broncos extracted more practical value from the exchange. Denver Broncos earns a B- grade, and the overall verdict is Denver Broncos Win.

Denver acquired Steve Ramsey from New Orleans for the future fourth-round selection that ultimately became No. 83 Tim Kearney after later movement. Ramsey spent six seasons with the Broncos and developed into a multi-year starting quarterback. That sustained direct service gave Denver substantial value, while New Orleans did not retain a comparable payoff from the original draft consideration.

Denver sent linebacker Rob Nairne to New Orleans and received the future fifth-round choice that became No. 125 Bruce Baldwin. Baldwin never produced a regular-season NFL return for the Broncos. Nairne immediately became useful for the Saints, playing all 16 games and starting 13 in 1981, so Denver received far less practical value from the exchange.

Denver traded Kelvin Clark to New Orleans and received the 1984 fourth-round selection that became No. 96 Rickey Bolden. The Broncos later used that same pick as the key asset in the Dave Logan trade with Cleveland, so the selection retained meaningful transaction value beyond this exchange. That flexibility supports a B- grade for Denver.

Denver moved up two spots in the third round of the 1988 draft, sending New Orleans picks No. 81 and No. 276 for No. 79. The Broncos used the higher choice on defensive back Kevin Guidry, who appeared in 14 games for Denver as a rookie. Neither Saints selection became an NFL contributor, giving Denver a small but real edge in an otherwise low-impact exchange.

Denver Broncos received Shawn Knight in the 1988-08-29 exchange involving New Orleans Saints. Knight appeared in 14 games for Denver during the 1988 season, giving the Broncos at least one season of usable depth from a player who had struggled to justify his original draft status. That realized return supports a C grade for Denver Broncos. The overall verdict is Denver Broncos Win, with the grade based on direct value created from this transaction.

Denver traded pick No. 76 to New Orleans for picks 98 and 105, selecting Quinn Meinerz and Baron Browning. Meinerz became a first-team All-Pro guard and signed a long-term extension, while Browning developed into a useful edge defender before Denver later traded him. New Orleans used No. 76 on Paulson Adebo, who started 51 games in four seasons and became a coveted free agent. Both teams hit, but Meinerz makes Denver's two-player return exceptional.

Denver sent New Orleans a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 second for the rights to hire Sean Payton, receiving Payton and a 2024 third in return. After an 8-9 debut, Payton led Denver to consecutive playoff berths, a 14-3 record, the 2025 AFC West title and an AFC Championship Game appearance. New Orleans used the first-rounder on Bryan Bresee and leveraged the second-rounder in another trade. Both sides gained value, but Denver’s franchise turnaround now wins.

Denver sent the 195th pick in the 2023 draft to New Orleans for tight end Adam Trautman and pick No. 257. The Saints used No. 195 on receiver A.T. Perry, while Denver selected center Alex Forsyth at 257. Trautman became a regular part of Denver's offense and Forsyth added line depth. Perry flashed receiving ability but had a shorter Saints tenure, giving Denver the broader practical return.

Denver acquired kicker Wil Lutz from New Orleans for a 2024 seventh-round pick that became No. 239, Josiah Ezirim. Lutz immediately stabilized the Broncos' kicking job and gave Denver dependable veteran production for a minimal draft cost. New Orleans recovered a late selection after moving on to Blake Grupe, but the pick carried far less realized value than the proven specialist Denver received.

Denver traded receiver Devaughn Vele to New Orleans for a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-rounder. Vele caught 25 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games for the Saints in 2025, while Denver's fourth-round asset became pick No. 108 and Jonah Coleman. Turning a former seventh-round receiver into a fourth plus a future seventh gives Denver a B; New Orleans receives a C+.