Denver traded pick No. 76 to New Orleans for picks 98 and…
Denver traded pick No. 76 to New Orleans for picks 98 and 105, selecting Quinn Meinerz and Baron Browning. Meinerz became a first-team All-Pro guard and signed a long-term extension, while Browning developed into a useful edge defender before Denver later traded him. New Orleans used No. 76 on Paulson Adebo, who started 51 games in four seasons and became a coveted free agent. Both teams hit, but Meinerz makes Denver's two-player return exceptional.
Denver Broncos Received
- pick 2021 3rd round pick (98th overall, Quinn Meinerz)
- pick 2021 3rd round pick (105th overall, Baron Browning )
New Orleans Saints Received
- pick 2021 3rd round pick (76th overall, Paulson Adebo )
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Denver sent the 76th pick in the 2021 draft to New Orleans for picks No. 98 and No. 105. The Saints selected Stanford cornerback Paulson Adebo. Denver used No. 98 on Wisconsin-Whitewater guard Quinn Meinerz and No. 105 on Ohio State linebacker Baron Browning. This was the second trade-down in a sequence for the Broncos, but the exchange stands on its own because all three selections became identifiable players with meaningful NFL careers.
Why Denver Won
Meinerz turned a good trade into a great one. He developed from a Division III prospect into one of the league's top guards, signed a four-year extension in 2024, and earned first-team All-Pro honors that season. Browning added further value as a versatile defender who eventually became an edge rusher and contributed for multiple seasons before Denver moved him in another trade. Getting an elite interior lineman plus a second useful player from two late-third-round choices is exceptional value.
How New Orleans Fared
The Saints should still feel good about their side. Adebo started 51 of 52 games over four seasons in New Orleans, recorded 10 interceptions, and posted a particularly strong 2023 season with four interceptions and 18 passes defensed. A broken femur shortened his final Saints season, but his overall body of work was strong enough to command a major free-agent contract in 2025. New Orleans paid two picks and received a legitimate starting corner.
Final Verdict
Denver earns an A+ and New Orleans an A-. Both teams drafted extremely well, which makes the grade spread smaller than the word "win" might suggest. Adebo was a clear success for the Saints. Meinerz became the best player in the transaction, however, and Browning gave Denver additional value on top of that. An All-Pro guard plus a second contributor outweighs one very good corner, giving the Broncos the edge.