Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons completed this exchange on…
Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons completed this exchange on 1993-04-07. The Broncos packaged No. Atlanta acquired a usable veteran rather than an empty asset, so the trade was not a total loss. Following the acquired picks only through moves actually made by the receiving clubs, the overall result is Denver Broncos Win.
Denver Broncos Received
- pick 1993 third round pick (#83-Mike Caldwell)
- pick 1993 seventh round pick (#169-Clarence Williams III)
Atlanta Falcons Received
- player Alton Montgomery
Trade Analysis
Why the Deal Happened
Denver traded defensive back Alton Montgomery to Atlanta for the Falcons' third- and seventh-round selections in 1993. The third-rounder carried most of the value and soon became part of another Denver move. Instead of treating No. 83 as though the Broncos drafted the player eventually listed at that slot, the useful way to evaluate the deal is to follow how Denver actually used that acquired pick.
What Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons Received
The Broncos packaged No. 83 with their original first-round position to move from No. 14 to No. 11, where they selected defensive lineman Dan Williams. Williams played 87 NFL games and recorded 27 sacks, including several seasons as a Denver starter. The seventh-round choice was used on Clarence Williams. Atlanta received Montgomery, a versatile defensive back and returner whose overall NFL career reached 68 games but who did not become a comparable long-term cornerstone for the Falcons.
How the Value Developed
Atlanta acquired a usable veteran rather than an empty asset, so the trade was not a total loss. Denver nevertheless extracted greater leverage from the package. The third-round pick helped the Broncos secure a first-round defensive lineman who produced meaningful starting and pass-rush value, and the club also retained the extra seventh-round opportunity. Because the most important acquired asset became effective move-up currency, Denver deserves the stronger grade.
Final Verdict
Denver Broncos Win. Denver Broncos receives a B+ and Atlanta Falcons receives a C. The grading credits direct on-field production and follows an acquired draft choice into a later trade only when that same asset was actually controlled and moved by the receiving club. That approach avoids assigning another team's eventual selection to the wrong side and keeps the verdict tied to value each franchise truly realized.