The 2010 Demaryius Thomas Trade-Up: Denver Found a Star While New England Kept Dealing
Denver sent New England picks No. 24 and No. 113 to reach No. 22 for Demaryius Thomas. The Patriots moved the first-rounder again, making this a rare value-rich deal on both sides.
Denver Broncos Received
- pick 2010 1st round pick (22nd overall, Demaryius Thomas )
New England Patriots Received
- pick 2010 1st round pick (24th overall, subsequently traded to Dallas)
- pick 2010 4th round pick (113th overall, Aaron Hernandez )
Trade Summary
Denver moved from No. 24 to No. 22 and selected Demaryius Thomas, who became a five-time Pro Bowler and a central player on a Super Bowl champion. New England received No. 24 and No. 113, using the latter on Aaron Hernandez and the former in the next trade-down that helped produce Devin McCourty. Both teams created cornerstone value.
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
Denver moved from No. 24 to No. 22 in the 2010 first round, sending New England the 24th pick and No. 113 in the fourth round. The Broncos selected wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. New England did not keep No. 24; the Patriots immediately traded down again with Dallas, continuing an asset chain that eventually produced additional picks.
Why Denver Was Right to Move
Thomas became the reason the two-slot jump was worth making. He developed into Peyton Manning's premier outside target, posted multiple elite receiving seasons, made five Pro Bowls and played a central role on Denver teams that reached two Super Bowls and won Super Bowl 50. A small first-round move produced a franchise-level receiver rather than merely preventing another club from selecting a prospect Denver liked.
The price also looks reasonable in context. Denver gave up a fourth-round pick to eliminate the risk between No. 22 and No. 24. Once Thomas became a long-term star, the opportunity cost of that additional selection became secondary.
What New England Did With the Return
The Patriots' side should be evaluated as an asset-management play rather than as a direct player-for-player comparison. New England gained No. 113 and retained control of a first-round pick, then moved No. 24 to Dallas in another trade. That subsequent move helped the Patriots continue extracting value from the draft board rather than locking themselves to one prospect.
The fourth-round selection also produced on-field value, giving New England another productive player from a transaction in which it moved back only two slots.
Why Both Grades Can Be High
Denver acquired the best single player tied directly to the exchange. New England followed its preferred strategy of trading down, collecting additional capital and continuing to maneuver without sacrificing the entire first-round value.
Final Verdict
Even Trade is reasonable. Denver should be thrilled because Thomas became a franchise star and champion. New England still received meaningful draft value and flexibility from a tiny move down the board, making this one of the uncommon trades where both strategic approaches produced strong returns.