Denver sent Charlie Mitchell to Buffalo in June 1968 and…

The Exchange

Denver traded Charlie Mitchell to Buffalo in June 1968 and received the Bills' 1969 sixth-round selection. The pick became No. 131, Wandy Williams. This transaction is separate from the Tony King move involving an unexercised conditional sixth-round choice, even though the two Denver-Buffalo transactions occurred on the same date and were previously easy to confuse. Buffalo Bills Return Buffalo received Mitchell, a back who had spent several seasons with Denver. His Bills tenure was brief, appearing in only a small number of games in 1968. That gave Buffalo some immediate veteran depth but little lasting return. Because the compensation was only a sixth-round selection, the move was not expensive, yet the short stay limits the value the Bills can claim in hindsight. Denver Broncos Return Denver used the acquired pick on Williams at No. 131. Williams appeared in 12 games for the Broncos across 1969 and 1970, contributing on offense and handling kickoff returns. His production was modest, but the selection produced an actual roster player and gave Denver more usable value than simply letting Mitchell leave without compensation. Value in Hindsight The gap remains small because neither player became a major long-term piece. Williams' two seasons and return-game work are enough to separate the sides, especially against Mitchell's very short Buffalo stay, but this is still a sixth-round transaction from the AFL era. The judgment should reward Denver's realized draft return without exaggerating the importance of a move that had limited overall impact. Final Verdict Denver earns a C+ and Buffalo a C. The Broncos converted Mitchell into the pick that became Williams and received slightly more documented football value. Buffalo's cost was modest and the trade did not materially damage the franchise, but the player it acquired provided less lasting benefit. That makes Denver the narrow winner of the direct exchange.