Denver received two future selections that became Steve…
Denver received two future selections that became Steve Roberts and Pat Kelly. Roberts did not create NFL value, but Kelly gave the Broncos two full seasons of roster service and made the package at least modestly productive. The return was not substantial, yet Denver extracted more useful football value from the future picks than Los Angeles received from Steve Busick after the trade.
Denver Broncos Received
- pick 1987 eleventh round pick (#299-Steve Roberts)
- pick 1988 seventh round pick (#174-Pat Kelly (Joseph))
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Steve Busick
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1986-09-03, Denver Broncos received 1987 eleventh round pick (#299-Steve Roberts); 1988 seventh round pick (#174-Pat Kelly (Joseph)), while Los Angeles Rams received Steve Busick. The evaluation follows the football value actually created by the consideration each club controlled. When an acquired pick was later moved again, that later transaction is treated as provenance rather than automatically credited as player value from this original exchange.
Denver Broncos Return
Denver received two future selections that became Steve Roberts and Pat Kelly. Roberts did not create NFL value, but Kelly gave the Broncos two full seasons of roster service and made the package at least modestly productive. The return was not substantial, yet Denver extracted more useful football value from the future picks than Los Angeles received from Steve Busick after the trade.
Los Angeles Rams Return
Los Angeles acquired Steve Busick, but his Rams tenure was extremely brief. Busick appeared in only four games with one start after the transaction and did not become a durable part of the defense. That limited service left the Rams with little realized value. Denver's return was also modest, but Pat Kelly's two seasons of club service were enough to create a clear edge.
Value in Hindsight
Denver received the future selections that became Steve Roberts and Pat Kelly. Roberts did not create NFL value, but Kelly gave Denver two full seasons of roster service. Steve Busick appeared in only four Rams games with one start after the trade. The return was modest on both sides, yet Denver clearly received the more useful result. The comparison therefore emphasizes direct club service, starting responsibility, production, and the practical value of retained draft capital without inflating downstream transactions that required separate consideration.
Final Verdict
Denver Broncos receives a C+ and Los Angeles Rams receives a D. The verdict is Denver Broncos Win. The grade spread reflects both the scale of the original transaction and the difference in realized football value, while avoiding exaggerated penalties for modest late-round deals.