Denver acquired the 111th pick in the 1990 draft from New…
Denver acquired the 111th pick in the 1990 draft from New England and selected offensive lineman Jeff Davidson, sending a 1991 fourth-round selection in return. That future pick became No. 88 and was eventually used on Sammy Walker after later movement. Davidson developed into a useful NFL lineman, while the Patriots' asset also held legitimate fourth-round value. The exchange remains balanced, with no decisive long-term winner.
Denver Broncos Received
- pick 1990 fifth round pick (#111-Jeff Davidson)
New England Patriots Received
- pick 1991 fourth round pick (#88-Sammy Walker)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Denver acquired pick No. 111 in the 1990 draft from New England and used it on offensive lineman Jeff Davidson. The Patriots received Denver's 1991 fourth-round selection in return. That future asset became No. 88 and later moved again before Sammy Walker was selected. The basic exchange was a current fifth-round opportunity for a future fourth-round resource.
Denver Broncos Return
Davidson developed into a legitimate NFL offensive lineman, giving Denver tangible player value from the acquired selection. He was not a franchise-defining star, but a fifth-round pick becoming a useful professional is a successful outcome. Denver accepted the cost of a better future round because it wanted the immediate selection, and the player chosen justified much of that decision.
New England Patriots Return
The Patriots followed the standard draft-value logic of postponing a selection in exchange for a higher round the next year. Receiving a fourth for a fifth gave New England a stronger future asset and additional flexibility. The pick's later movement means its eventual player should not be treated as a simple one-to-one Patriots selection, but the asset itself was appropriately valuable.
Value in Hindsight
Both sides achieved what the trade structure suggested. Denver got immediate access to a player who proved useful, while New England upgraded the round of its future capital. Neither outcome created a dramatic separation. Davidson's career prevents the future-round premium from automatically making New England the winner.
Final Verdict
Denver and New England each receive a C+. The exchange was sensible from both perspectives and produced credible value on both sides, leaving an even verdict as the fairest conclusion.