Denver traded picks No. 52, No. 125 and No. 182 to Cincinnati…
Denver traded picks No. 52, No. 125 and No. 182 to Cincinnati to move up to No. 42 for quarterback Drew Lock. Lock started 21 games for the Broncos but never secured the franchise job and later became part of the Russell Wilson trade. Cincinnati turned the return into Drew Sample, Renell Wren and Trayveon Williams, getting longer aggregate service despite no star outcome.
Cincinnati Bengals Received
- pick 2019 2nd round pick (52nd overall, Drew Sample )
- pick 2019 4th round pick (125th overall, Renell Wren )
- pick 2019 6th round pick (182nd overall, Trayveon Williams)
Denver Broncos Received
- pick 2019 2nd round pick (42nd overall, Drew Lock)
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Denver moved from No. 52 to No. 42 in the 2019 second round to select Missouri quarterback Drew Lock. Cincinnati received No. 52, No. 125 and No. 182, using those selections on tight end Drew Sample, defensive lineman Renell Wren and running back Trayveon Williams. The Broncos were paying extra capital for a potential starting quarterback; the Bengals chose volume.
Why the Value Separated
Lock flashed enough talent to start 21 games for Denver, including a promising late run as a rookie, but inconsistency prevented him from becoming the franchise's long-term answer. He eventually left Denver as part of the package used to acquire Russell Wilson. Cincinnati did not land a star from the return, but Sample became a long-tenured blocking tight end and Williams supplied depth and special-teams work. Wren's contribution was limited by injuries.
How the Deal Aged
Quarterback upside made Denver's gamble reasonable, and the Broncos at least received meaningful starts rather than an immediate miss. Yet a move-up for a passer is ultimately judged by whether it solves the position. Lock did not. Cincinnati's three-player return produced a lower ceiling but more cumulative roster service, especially from Sample and Williams. The Bengals also avoided giving up extra capital for a player who failed to become a stable starter.
Final Verdict
Cincinnati wins, B to Denver's C-. This is not a crushing Broncos loss because Lock played, showed stretches of promise and later retained some trade value. The Bengals simply received more durable aggregate service from the selections they collected. Denver paid the quarterback premium without receiving a long-term quarterback outcome, which creates the deciding gap.