Denver Broncos–Washington Commanders Trade History

Denver acquired the rights to running back Jon Keyworth from Washington on February 18, 1974 for 1975 picks No. 147 and No. 277. Keyworth became a seven-season Bronco, started 69 games, and contributed to the 1977 AFC championship team. That sustained production easily surpassed Washington's draft return and makes Denver the clear winner.

Denver Broncos received 1999 6th round pick (179th overall, Desmond Clark) and 1999 7th round pick (218th overall, Billy Miller) from Washington in the 1999-04-18 exchange. Denver turned the two acquired picks into Desmond Clark and Billy Miller; Clark produced 905 receiving yards and nine touchdowns for Denver in 2000-01, while Washington's Derek Smith never played an NFL regular-season game. Measured by what Denver Broncos actually realized after the deal, the return supports a A grade and represents the stronger realized return. The overall judgment is Denver Broncos Win.

Washington acquired cornerback Tito Paul from Denver for seventh-round selections in 2000 and 2001. Paul was a short-term depth addition rather than a long-running starter, while Denver later moved both late-round assets before the selections were made. The trade therefore produced little durable franchise value on either side. Washington received immediate roster help, and Denver preserved two small pieces of future flexibility, making the outcome essentially even.

Washington acquired defensive tackle Lional Dalton from Denver in 2003 for a conditional 2004 pick. The original terms called for a fifth-rounder if Dalton played at least 40 percent of defensive snaps and a seventh otherwise; the final compensation became a conditional sixth-round pick, No. 171 Triandos Luke. Dalton started nine games for Washington, giving the Commanders the better immediate return.

Denver traded Clinton Portis to Washington and received Champ Bailey plus the 41st pick in the 2004 draft, which became Tatum Bell. Portis produced several excellent seasons in Washington, including three 1,200-yard campaigns, so the deal was not a failure for Washington. Bailey became a Hall of Fame cornerback and perennial Pro Bowler in Denver, however, while the Broncos also received meaningful draft capital.

Washington paid a 2005 third-rounder plus its 2006 first- and fourth-round selections to obtain Denver's No. 25 pick and draft quarterback Jason Campbell. Campbell became a multi-year starter, so the move was not empty. Denver nevertheless received a premium package, including the pick used on Brandon Marshall and a future first-rounder, making the Broncos the clear value winner despite Washington getting meaningful quarterback play.

In a three-team deal, Washington received running back T.J. Duckett from Atlanta, Denver received Washington's 2007 third-round and 2008 fourth-round choices, and Atlanta received wide receiver Ashley Lelie from Denver. Although Atlanta completed the player bridge, the Washington-Denver value exchange is stark: two useful draft assets went to Denver while Washington received only a small amount of one-season production.

Denver sent wide receiver Jabar Gaffney to Washington for defensive lineman Jeremy Jarmon in a straight player swap on July 27, 2011. Jarmon had only a brief Denver tenure and did not match the immediate production Gaffney delivered in Washington. With no additional consideration involved, the Broncos clearly received the weaker realized return from the exchange.

Denver Broncos received Su'a Cravens, the 2018 fourth-round pick used on DaeSean Hamilton, and an additional 2018 fifth-round selection from Washington Commanders. Cravens played only five Denver games, while Hamilton supplied some receiving value. The B- grade reflects a useful but limited return, with the final Washington Commanders Win call based on the broader value Washington created from its package.

Denver Broncos and Washington completed this transaction on 2019-03-13, with Denver Broncos receiving 2020 6th round pick (181st overall, Netane Muti) and Washington receiving Case Keenum and 2020 7th round pick (229th overall, James Smith-Williams). The cited historical sources support the basic exchange and its compensation. In hindsight, Washington gets the better grade because its return produced the clearer practical value from this modest exchange.