Denver Broncos received 1992 seventh round pick (#170-Ron…
Denver Broncos received 1992 seventh round pick (#170-Ron Geater). Denver received Tampa Bay's 1992 seventh-round choice and used No. 170 on Ron Geater. Geater appeared in only three NFL games, so the pick produced very little direct value. Denver still came out ahead because Ricky Nattiel never delivered regular-season value for Tampa Bay, but the return was modest and fits a restrained positive grade. That result supports a C grade for Denver Broncos.
Denver Broncos Received
- pick 1992 seventh round pick (#170-Ron Geater)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Received
- player Ricky Nattiel
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1992-01-29, Denver Broncos received 1992 seventh round pick (#170-Ron Geater), while Tampa Bay Buccaneers received Ricky Nattiel. Historical team, transaction, draft, and player records support the package. The comparison focuses on the value each franchise actually controlled and the regular-season contribution created after the exchange.
Denver Broncos Return
Denver Broncos received 1992 seventh round pick (#170-Ron Geater). Denver received Tampa Bay's 1992 seventh-round choice and used No. 170 on Ron Geater. Geater appeared in only three NFL games, so the pick produced very little direct value. Denver still came out ahead because Ricky Nattiel never delivered regular-season value for Tampa Bay, but the return was modest and fits a restrained positive grade. That result supports a C grade for Denver Broncos. The grade reflects the scale and durability of that return rather than simply the draft position or reputation attached to the asset at the moment of the trade.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Return
Tampa Bay Buccaneers received Ricky Nattiel. Tampa Bay received Ricky Nattiel. The Buccaneers released him before the 1992 regular season, and he soon returned to Denver, leaving Tampa Bay without a regular-season contribution from the acquisition. The cost was only a seventh-round choice, which limits the damage, but the club realized less value than Denver did from the pick. That result supports a D+ grade for Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The same standard applies here: direct playing time, retained draft capital, and clearly documented later movement of an acquired pick matter more than a player selected by a different franchise later in the chain.
Value in Hindsight
Tampa Bay sent its 1992 seventh-round choice to Denver for Ricky Nattiel. Nattiel was released by Tampa Bay before the 1992 regular season and quickly returned to Denver, leaving the Buccaneers without realized regular-season value from the player. Denver used the acquired pick on Ron Geater, who appeared in only three games. Denver still edges the exchange, but the current B-minus grade overstates the payoff. This hindsight view keeps later pick movement in context and avoids assigning another club's eventual player production to a team that had already moved the selection.
Final Verdict
The final call is Denver Broncos Win. Denver Broncos earns C, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers earns D+. Those grades match the supported package and the relative football value each side realized from the transaction.