Denver sent linebacker Rob Nairne to New Orleans and received…
Denver sent linebacker Rob Nairne to New Orleans and received the future fifth-round choice that became No. 125 Bruce Baldwin. Baldwin never produced a regular-season NFL return for the Broncos. Nairne immediately became useful for the Saints, playing all 16 games and starting 13 in 1981, so Denver received far less practical value from the exchange.
Denver Broncos Received
- pick 1983 fifth round pick (#125-Bruce Baldwin)
New Orleans Saints Received
- player Rob Nairne
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1981-08-31, Denver Broncos received 1983 fifth round pick (#125-Bruce Baldwin), while New Orleans Saints received Rob Nairne. The exchange is judged by the football value each club actually realized from the assets it controlled after the transaction. Later movement of a draft choice is considered only when the cited record connects that movement to the original return.
Denver Broncos Return
Denver sent linebacker Rob Nairne to New Orleans and received the future fifth-round choice that became No. 125 Bruce Baldwin. Baldwin never produced a regular-season NFL return for the Broncos. Nairne immediately became useful for the Saints, playing all 16 games and starting 13 in 1981, so Denver received far less practical value from the exchange.
New Orleans Saints Return
New Orleans acquired Rob Nairne from Denver for the future fifth-round choice that became No. 125 Bruce Baldwin. Nairne played all 16 games for the Saints in 1981 and started 13, giving the club immediate defensive value. Baldwin did not create an NFL regular-season return for Denver, making New Orleans the clear beneficiary of the transaction.
Value in Hindsight
Nairne's immediate 1981 role gives New Orleans a concrete return: 16 games and 13 starts in the season of the transaction. Denver's incoming draft choice became Bruce Baldwin, who did not provide an NFL regular-season return. That contrast makes this more than a theoretical pick-versus-player comparison. The Saints bought real starting service for a future fifth-rounder, while the Broncos did not convert their selection into comparable production. The gap supports a strong New Orleans win while keeping the grade proportional to the modest original stakes.
Final Verdict
The final call is New Orleans Saints Win. Denver Broncos earns D, and New Orleans Saints earns B+. Those grades reflect the supported package, the documented post-trade production, and the relative football value each side ultimately realized from this exchange.