Denver moved down two spots in the 1982 first round, sending…
Denver moved down two spots in the 1982 first round, sending No. 19 to Buffalo for No. 21 and a fourth-rounder. The Broncos selected Gerald Willhite, who spent seven seasons in Denver with 1,688 rushing yards, 1,767 receiving yards and 22 total offensive touchdowns. Buffalo used No. 19 on Perry Tuttle, whose Bills career lasted only 16 games and 24 receptions.
Denver Broncos Received
- pick 1982 first round pick (#21-Gerald Willhite)
- pick 1982 fourth round pick (#106-Dan Plater)
Buffalo Bills Received
- pick 1982 first round pick (#19-Perry Tuttle)
Trade Analysis
Why Buffalo Moved Up
Buffalo wanted wide receiver Perry Tuttle and moved from No. 21 to No. 19 to secure him. The Bills paid Denver a fourth-round selection, No. 106, for the two-slot climb. Denver's historical draft material confirms that the Broncos received both the later first and the fourth in the exchange.
What Buffalo Received
Tuttle never developed into the first-round receiving weapon Buffalo expected. He played seven games as a rookie and nine in 1983, finishing his Bills tenure with 24 catches for 368 yards and three touchdowns. His NFL career lasted only 24 games overall, so the premium pick produced a short and modest return.
How Denver Won at No. 21
The Broncos selected Gerald Willhite with the pick obtained from Buffalo. Willhite stayed with Denver for seven seasons, rushing for 1,688 yards and 17 touchdowns while adding 207 receptions for 1,767 yards and five more scores. His versatility made him a useful runner and receiver through multiple playoff seasons. Denver also retained the extra fourth-round selection.
Why the Value Gap Is Large
This was not simply a case of a later pick outperforming an earlier one. Denver also received extra draft capital for moving back only two spots, then landed a player who contributed for most of the decade. Buffalo paid to move up and received two limited seasons.
Final Verdict
Denver earns an A- and Buffalo a D+. Willhite's seven-year production easily exceeds Tuttle's brief Bills tenure, and the additional fourth-rounder widens the advantage. The Broncos gained both quantity and the much better first-round outcome.