Denver agreed to send Brandon Lloyd to St. Louis on October…
Denver agreed to send Brandon Lloyd to St. Louis on October 17, 2011 for a conditional 2012 draft choice; the condition ultimately produced a fifth-round pick, No. 167. Lloyd immediately gave the Rams 51 catches, 683 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games. Denver, pivoting its offense around Tim Tebow, recovered useful capital for a veteran on an expiring contract and later moved the pick. Both sides benefited, with St. Louis holding a slight edge.
Denver Broncos Received
- pick 2012 5th round pick (167th overall, subsequently traded; George Iloka provenance)
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Brandon Lloyd
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Denver and St. Louis agreed to the Brandon Lloyd trade on October 17, 2011. The Rams received Lloyd, while Denver received a conditional 2012 draft choice. The condition ultimately produced a fifth-round pick at No. 167. The corpus date reflects the 2012 realization of that asset, but the player transaction itself occurred during the 2011 season.
Denver Broncos Return
Denver agreed to send Brandon Lloyd to St. Louis on October 17, 2011 for a conditional 2012 draft choice; the condition ultimately produced a fifth-round pick, No. 167. Lloyd immediately gave the Rams 51 catches, 683 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games. Denver, pivoting its offense around Tim Tebow, recovered useful capital for a veteran on an expiring contract and later moved the pick. Both sides benefited, with St. Louis holding a slight edge.
Los Angeles Rams Return
St. Louis acquired Brandon Lloyd from Denver during the 2011 season for a conditional 2012 pick that ultimately became a fifth-rounder at No. 167. Lloyd reunited with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and produced 683 receiving yards with five touchdowns in 11 Rams games. Denver received future value while moving a veteran whose fit had changed, but the Rams obtained immediate starting-receiver production for a modest price, giving them the better short-term return.
Value in Hindsight
Both teams executed understandable strategies. Denver matched its roster to a changing offense and recovered future capital. St. Louis bought immediate help at a reasonable price and received exactly that. Lloyd's 2011 Rams production was more concrete than the value Denver ultimately retained from the fifth-round asset, giving St. Louis a modest advantage rather than a landslide.
Final Verdict
St. Louis earns a B and Denver a B-. The Rams received strong short-term receiving production for limited draft cost, while Denver made a sensible transition move and avoided losing Lloyd without compensation. Both sides benefited, but the Rams realized slightly more direct football value.