Denver Broncos–San Francisco 49ers Trade History

Denver acquired offensive tackle Andy Maurer from San Francisco on September 2, 1977, for a 1978 ninth-round pick that became No. 249, Steve McDaniels. Maurer supplied veteran line help during Denver's Super Bowl XII season, while the late-round selection produced limited downstream value. The Broncos therefore earn the clear hindsight edge.

Denver acquired Steve DeBerg from San Francisco for a 1983 fourth-round draft choice. DeBerg provided useful quarterback starts across multiple seasons and gave the Broncos meaningful direct service from the transaction. The draft asset ultimately corresponded to No. 87 Chuck Nelson after later movement, but San Francisco did not retain comparable realized value from the original consideration.

Denver acquired Eason Ramson from San Francisco for the 1984 fifth-round choice that became No. 132 Cliff Benson. Ramson never appeared in a regular-season game for Denver, so the Broncos received no sustained on-field return. The surrendered draft capital later helped San Francisco move up for Michael Carter, leaving Denver with the clearly weaker realized outcome.

Denver acquired nose tackle Ted Washington and the 99th pick in the 1994 draft from San Francisco for picks No. 87 and No. 149. Washington started 15 games for Denver that season, while the Broncos soon used No. 99 in the Mike Pritchard trade. San Francisco received limited direct production from Cory Fleming and later moved No. 149. Denver gets a modest but clear edge.

Denver sent reserve tackle Jamie Brown to San Francisco for a 1999 second-round pick that became defensive tackle Montae Reagor at No. 58. Brown started five games for the 49ers in 1998 and was gone after the season, while Reagor developed into a long-term NFL contributor. Denver converted a depth lineman into premium draft capital and clearly produced the stronger lasting return.

Denver acquired tight end Nate Jackson from San Francisco in August 2003 for a conditional 2004 draft choice. The condition never produced a conveyed pick, so Denver received the only realized football asset. Jackson gave the Broncos usable depth and special-teams value over multiple seasons, making a modest Denver win the most defensible hindsight result.

Denver acquired John Engelberger from San Francisco for Willie Middlebrooks in July 2005. Engelberger stayed through 2008, appearing in 61 regular-season games and making 22 starts for the Broncos. Middlebrooks’ 49ers stint lasted only five games in 2005. Neither player became a star, but Denver received years of dependable defensive-line service from a straight player swap, creating a clear Broncos win on durability and usable snaps.

San Francisco sent picks 37 and 68 to Denver for the 22nd selection in the 2006 draft and used it on linebacker Manny Lawson. Lawson became a long-lived NFL starter and contributor. Denver then turned No. 37 into Javon Walker and included No. 68 in a larger move that helped the Broncos climb for Jay Cutler, giving Denver greater flexibility and downstream value.

San Francisco moved from No. 13 to No. 11 for tackle Anthony Davis, sending Denver an additional fourth-round pick. Davis became a 71-game starter and helped the 49ers reach Super Bowl XLVII, so San Francisco received real value. Denver's two incoming picks fueled a larger draft chain that produced Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker and capital used in the Tim Tebow move, creating the stronger overall return.

San Francisco paid picks Nos. 45, 108 and 141 to move to No. 36 for Colin Kaepernick. The quarterback became the centerpiece of a Super Bowl run and another NFC Championship appearance, giving the 49ers rare second-round upside. Denver received Rahim Moore and Quinton Carter plus a fifth-round asset, producing useful defensive starters but not the same franchise-level peak.

Denver moved up from No. 63 to No. 56 in the 2014 second round, also receiving No. 242, while San Francisco collected Nos. 63 and 171 plus a 2015 fourth-rounder. Denver selected Cody Latimer and Corey Nelson. The 49ers quickly repackaged Nos. 63 and 171 to move to No. 57 for Carlos Hyde and later used the future fourth on Mike Davis. San Francisco created the stronger overall value.

Denver Broncos received 2018 4th round pick (109th overall subsequently traded, Troy Apke) in the 2017-04-29 exchange, while San Francisco 49ers received Kapri Bibbs and 2017 5th round pick (177th overall, Trent Taylor). Denver received a 2018 fourth-round selection that settled at No. 109 and later became part of another trade chain. That future draft capital gave the Broncos flexibility and enough retained value to support a small edge.

Denver Broncos received Dekoda Watson; 2019 6th round pick (212th overall subsequently traded, Dennis Daley) from San Francisco 49ers, giving up 2019 5th round pick (148th overall, Dre Greenlaw). Denver received Dekoda Watson and a late sixth-round choice. The return proved limited compared with the value San Francisco created from No. 148, so the Broncos receive an F on this specific exchange. That return supports a F grade for Denver Broncos. The final verdict is San Francisco 49ers Win.

Denver sent Emmanuel Sanders and a 2020 fifth-round pick to San Francisco for third- and fourth-round selections. The Broncos used No. 95 on McTelvin Agim and later moved the fourth-rounder, but the resulting value never matched Sanders' immediate impact on a 49ers team that reached Super Bowl LIV. Denver gained useful rebuilding capital, yet San Francisco got the more consequential football return.

Denver acquired linebacker Jonas Griffith and a 2022 seventh-round pick from San Francisco for a 2022 sixth-rounder and a 2023 seventh-rounder. Griffith became a useful short-term starter, appearing in 22 games with 12 starts for the Broncos before injuries interrupted his momentum. San Francisco retained usable draft value, but Denver received the most immediate NFL contribution, producing a modest Broncos edge.

San Francisco acquired Randy Gregory and Denver's 2024 seventh-round choice for the 49ers' 2024 sixth-round pick. Gregory supplied rotational pass-rush snaps during San Francisco's Super Bowl run, but the stint lasted only one season. Denver improved its draft position from the seventh to the sixth round while moving a player no longer central to its plans, giving the Broncos a small but durable value edge.