Denver traded its 2010 first-round pick to Seattle for the…
Denver traded its 2010 first-round pick to Seattle for the 37th choice in 2009 and selected cornerback Alphonso Smith. Smith lasted one season with Denver and made three starts. The future pick became No. 14, where Seattle selected Earl Thomas, a six-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro for the Seahawks. Few future-first trades have produced a clearer hindsight gap.
Denver Broncos Received
- pick 2009 2nd round pick (37th overall, Alphonso Smith )
Seattle Seahawks Received
- pick 2010 1st round pick (14th overall, Earl Thomas )
Trade Analysis
Why Denver Made the Gamble
Denver sent its 2010 first-round pick to Seattle for No. 37 in the 2009 draft and selected Wake Forest cornerback Alphonso Smith. The Broncos were betting that Smith's ball skills could justify surrendering an unknown future first. It was an aggressive move because the future selection carried no protection.
What Denver Received
Smith appeared in 15 games as a rookie but started only three. He intercepted no passes for Denver and did not establish himself as a long-term corner. Before the 2010 season, the Broncos traded him to Detroit for tight end Dan Gronkowski. That meant Denver had spent a future first-rounder for one season of limited cornerback value.
What Seattle Received
Denver's 2010 season produced the 14th overall pick. Seattle used it on Texas safety Earl Thomas. Thomas immediately became a starter and evolved into the center-field force behind the Legion of Boom. During his Seahawks career he made six Pro Bowls, earned first-team All-Pro honors three times and helped the franchise win Super Bowl XLVIII and reach another Super Bowl the following season.
Why This Trade Still Matters
Future first-round choices are risky because their eventual position is unknown. Seattle accepted that uncertainty and was rewarded with a premium selection. Denver's player failed quickly, while Seattle's became one of the best players in franchise history.
Final Verdict
Seattle Seahawks Win. Earl Thomas makes Seattle's return an A+. Denver receives an F because Alphonso Smith provided almost no lasting value after costing a future first-round selection.
Seattle accepted the uncertainty of a future first and captured exceptional upside when Denver's season placed the pick fourteenth overall. Thomas became a foundational All-Pro on a championship defense, while Smith lasted only one Broncos season. The contrast in performance, longevity and franchise impact makes Seattle's advantage overwhelming.