Denver traded two third-round picks to Pittsburgh for No. 64…
Denver traded two third-round picks to Pittsburgh for No. 64 and No. 132, then selected tight end Richard Quinn and guard Seth Olsen. Quinn caught one pass in three Broncos seasons and Olsen never became a Denver starter. Pittsburgh used No. 84 on Mike Wallace, who produced two 1,000-yard seasons and a Pro Bowl nod for the Steelers, making the value gap enormous even before considering Kraig Urbik.
Denver Broncos Received
- pick 2009 2nd round pick (64th overall, Richard Quinn)
- pick 2009 4th round pick (132nd overall, Seth Olsen)
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- pick 2009 3rd round pick (79th overall, Kraig Urbik)
- pick 2009 3rd round pick (84th overall, Mike Wallace )
Trade Analysis
Why Denver Traded Up
Denver sent picks No. 79 and No. 84 to Pittsburgh for No. 64 and No. 132 during the 2009 draft. The Broncos used the second-rounder on North Carolina tight end Richard Quinn and the fourth-rounder on Iowa guard Seth Olsen. The move reflected an aggressive effort to reshape the offense under a new coaching staff.
What Denver Received
The results were extremely limited. Quinn appeared in 29 games over three Denver seasons but caught only one pass and never became the receiving or blocking centerpiece expected from the 64th pick. Olsen did not establish himself as a Broncos starter and moved on quickly. Denver therefore spent two third-round selections without creating a lasting starting piece.
How Mike Wallace Changed Pittsburgh's Return
Pittsburgh used No. 84 on Ole Miss receiver Mike Wallace. His speed translated immediately: Wallace produced 756 receiving yards as a rookie, followed with 1,257 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2010, then 1,193 yards in 2011. He made the Pro Bowl in 2011 and became one of the league's most dangerous vertical receivers. Kraig Urbik, selected at No. 79, did not stick in Pittsburgh, but Wallace alone overwhelmed Denver's return.
Why This Trade Still Matters
The Steelers did not need both incoming picks to hit. One became a high-end starter at a premium skill position, while Denver's move-up failed to produce an equivalent contributor.
Final Verdict
Pittsburgh Steelers Win. Wallace's four productive Steelers seasons make this an A+ outcome. Denver receives an F because neither Quinn nor Olsen justified the significant draft capital spent to acquire them.