Denver sent quarterback Don Horn to Cleveland and received…
Denver sent quarterback Don Horn to Cleveland and received the Browns' 1974 third- and sixth-round selections. The third-rounder became No. 68 overall, tackle Claudie Minor, while the sixth-rounder was later moved to Pittsburgh. Horn appeared only sparingly for Cleveland in 1973, whereas Minor became a long-term Denver starter, giving the Broncos the stronger return.
Cleveland Browns Received
- player Don Horn
Denver Broncos Received
- pick 1974 third round pick (#68-Claudie Minor)
- pick 1974 sixth round pick (#149) [later traded with 1974 ninth round pick (#223-Tommy Reamon) to Pittsburgh Steelers for John Rowser]
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Denver had moved beyond Don Horn after he started nine games in 1971 and only two in 1972. Cleveland, meanwhile, was looking for quarterback depth behind Mike Phipps. The clubs agreed to send Horn to the Browns for Cleveland's third- and sixth-round selections in the 1974 draft. Cleveland's own draft history records both choices as going to Denver for Horn, while Broncos transaction histories describe the same two-pick return.
What Denver Received
The third-round choice became No. 68 overall, offensive tackle Claudie Minor. Minor supplied the lasting value in the deal: Denver's own historical material lists him as a 1974 third-round selection, and he went on to play 125 games with 123 starts for the Broncos. The sixth-round choice was No. 149 overall. Denver did not use that selection itself; it later packaged the pick in the John Rowser transaction with Pittsburgh. Even without assigning all of Rowser's later value to this trade, Denver converted Horn into two usable draft assets and one of them became a long-term starter.
What Cleveland Received
Horn spent the 1973 season with Cleveland but had a very small offensive role. Browns statistics credit him with eight pass attempts, four completions, 22 yards, and one touchdown. He did not become the quarterback solution Cleveland was seeking, and his Browns tenure was brief. That limited return matters because the cost included two selections from the following draft, including the pick that produced Minor.
Final Verdict
Denver Broncos Win. The C+ for Denver and C for Cleveland remain reasonable rather than turning this into a blowout. Cleveland acquired legitimate veteran depth, but received little actual production. Denver gained two draft choices, landed a nine-year offensive tackle with the third-rounder, and preserved additional value by moving the sixth-round pick in another trade.