Denver traded cornerback Aqib Talib to the Rams for the No.…
Denver traded cornerback Aqib Talib to the Rams for the No. 160 pick in the 2018 draft. Los Angeles paid a fifth-round pick for Aqib Talib, reuniting the veteran corner with Wade Phillips and adding him to a defense built for an immediate championship run. Talib started for the Rams when healthy and helped the club reach Super Bowl LIII. Denver created cap room and later recycled the pick, but the direct football impact favored Los Angeles.
Denver Broncos Received
- pick 2018 5th round pick (160th overall subsequently traded, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo)
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Aqib Talib
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Denver traded cornerback Aqib Talib to the Rams for the No. 160 pick in the 2018 draft. Denver was transitioning away from part of its Super Bowl-era secondary and created cap space by moving Talib. The Rams were operating in a win-now window and were willing to spend a fifth-rounder for a proven corner who knew Wade Phillips' defense. The trade should therefore be judged against each club's timeline.
Why the Value Moved
Los Angeles paid a fifth-round pick for Aqib Talib, reuniting the veteran corner with Wade Phillips and adding him to a defense built for an immediate championship run. Talib started for the Rams when healthy and helped the club reach Super Bowl LIII. Denver created cap room and later recycled the pick, but the direct football impact favored Los Angeles.
How the Trade Aged
The trade aged in favor of Los Angeles Rams because the most meaningful contribution came from that side of the exchange. The original draft-slot gap was only part of the equation; durability, starting value, postseason usefulness and any follow-on value matter more once the careers are known. The losing side still received something useful in most cases here, but not enough to erase the difference in realized impact.
Why This Trade Still Matters
This trade is a useful reminder that draft charts and announcement-day reactions cannot settle a verdict. A move up can be justified when the targeted player becomes a long-term starter, while a move down can win when extra selections create more total contribution. The fairest historical view follows what the clubs actually received and how long that value lasted.
Final Verdict
Los Angeles Rams Win. The grades are Denver Broncos C, Los Angeles Rams B+. The winning grade reflects the stronger realized football return, while the lower mark recognizes that the other club still acted within a defensible roster or draft strategy at the time.