Denver sent Cleveland the 13th pick in the 1989 draft for…
Denver sent Cleveland the 13th pick in the 1989 draft for Nos. 20, 47, 134 and 241. The Broncos selected Steve Atwater at No. 20, landing a future Hall of Fame safety and cornerstone of two Super Bowl champions. Cleveland used No. 13 on Eric Metcalf, a three-time Pro Bowler and elite multipurpose threat, making this an excellent trade for both clubs.
Denver Broncos Received
- pick 1989 first round pick (#20-Steve Atwater)
- pick 1989 second round pick (#47-Warren Powers (b. 1965-02-04))
- pick 1989 fifth round pick (#134-Darren Carrington (Russell))
- pick 1989 ninth round pick (#241-Wayne Williams (b))
Cleveland Browns Received
- pick 1989 first round pick (#13-Eric Metcalf)
Trade Analysis
Trades can produce a clear winner without producing a loser, and this is one of them. Cleveland moved up to No. 13 and selected Eric Metcalf, an extraordinary multipurpose player. Metcalf became a dangerous runner, receiver and returner, reached three Pro Bowls and earned first-team All-Pro recognition. His ability to create touchdowns in multiple phases gave the Browns a genuine star. An A grade is appropriate because Cleveland converted the premium slot into impact that lasted well beyond a single season.
Denver's return was even better. At No. 20, the Broncos selected Steve Atwater. He became one of the defining safeties of his era, made eight Pro Bowls, earned first-team All-Pro honors twice and eventually entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Atwater also remained central to Denver through the club's back-to-back Super Bowl championships at the end of the 1990s. The Broncos received three additional selections in the exchange, but the deal would already grade as a major success on Atwater alone.
The verdict therefore rests on the extraordinary ceiling of Denver's centerpiece. Cleveland did exactly what a team hopes to do when trading up: it found a dynamic, decorated player. Denver did something even harder, moving down seven spots and still landing a Hall of Famer at a position that anchored its defense for a decade. Because both teams converted their key selections so well, the grade gap should be small. Denver's A+ reflects Atwater's Hall of Fame and championship legacy; Cleveland's A recognizes that Metcalf made the move up a highly successful decision in its own right.