Denver sent veteran running back Derek Loville to St. Louis…
Denver sent veteran running back Derek Loville to St. Louis for the 189th pick in the 2000 draft. The Broncos used that sixth-round selection on Mike Anderson, who won AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, rushed for 4,067 career yards and scored 37 rushing touchdowns. Loville was near the end of his career. Turning a fringe veteran into an award-winning starting back makes this an overwhelming Denver win.
Denver Broncos Received
- pick 2000 6th round pick (189th overall, Mike Anderson)
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Derek Loville
Trade Analysis
Why Denver Took the Draft Pick
Denver moved Derek Loville to St. Louis for the 189th overall selection, accepting a sixth-round lottery ticket for a veteran running back who was no longer central to the roster. That type of transaction usually produces only marginal value. Instead, the Broncos used the pick on Utah running back Mike Anderson. The low acquisition cost is important because Denver gave up a player whose NFL career was effectively finished and received a prospect who immediately changed the offense.
What Mike Anderson Became
Anderson was one of the great late-round hits of the 2000 draft. As a rookie he rushed for 1,487 yards and 15 touchdowns, earning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. He eventually finished his career with 4,067 rushing yards and 37 rushing touchdowns across 98 games. Denver received several productive seasons, including another 1,000-yard campaign in 2005, from a selection obtained for a veteran with little remaining playing value.
What St. Louis Received
The Rams acquired Loville, but he did not play a regular-season game for St. Louis after the trade. That leaves the transaction with almost no direct football return on their side. A sixth-round pick is never guaranteed to become anything significant, so the process of acquiring a veteran for a late selection was not inherently reckless. The outcome, however, became extremely unfavorable because Denver found a rookie-of-the-year caliber back with that exact pick.
Final Verdict
Denver Broncos Win by a huge margin. Denver earns an A+ for converting a low-value veteran into Mike Anderson, an immediate 1,000-yard rusher and long-term contributor. St. Louis receives a D because Loville produced no regular-season value for the Rams after the exchange. Few sixth-round trades create this much separation between the outgoing asset and the player eventually selected.