Denver sent Carolina the 111th pick in the 1996 draft, used…

The Exchange

Denver traded fourth-round No. 111 to Carolina during the 1996 draft and received three selections in return: No. 122 in the fourth round, No. 159 in the fifth and No. 235 in the seventh. Carolina used No. 111 on Emmanuel McDaniel. Denver selected defensive back Darrius Johnson, receiver Patrick Jeffers and running back L.T. Levine with its three acquired choices. Denver Broncos Return The Broncos spread one pick across three roster opportunities. Johnson became the most immediate proof of the strategy, playing 63 NFL games over his career. Jeffers appeared only sparingly in Denver, but he later demonstrated genuine NFL ability, eventually producing a 1,082-yard, 12-touchdown season for Carolina in 1999. Levine did not add comparable value, yet two of the three selections became legitimate professional players. Carolina Panthers Return Carolina paid the extra selections to move up eleven spots for McDaniel. That type of targeted move can work if the player becomes a clear starter or long-term contributor, but the return did not separate enough from Denver's multiple-player outcome. The Panthers gained certainty about the player they wanted, though the cost included two additional chances that Denver successfully converted into NFL-caliber talent. Value in Hindsight Denver's advantage comes from breadth and realized player quality. The Broncos did not retain Jeffers through his best season, so they cannot claim all of his later production as direct team value. Still, the trade demonstrated that the acquired picks contained more football value than the single selection surrendered. Johnson's career alone added substance, and Jeffers' later breakout confirmed the talent found with No. 159. Final Verdict Denver earns a B and Carolina a C. The Panthers made a defensible move for a preferred player, but the Broncos converted one fourth-round slot into three opportunities and found multiple NFL contributors. The gap is meaningful without being overwhelming, making Denver the clear but not spectacular winner.