The Rams acquired Von Miller from Denver for second- and…
The Rams acquired Von Miller from Denver for second- and third-round picks in the 2022 draft, adding a proven edge rusher for a championship run. Miller became a major part of Los Angeles' Super Bowl LVI defense, while Denver eventually turned the second-rounder into Nik Bonitto, who developed into a Pro Bowl pass rusher of his own.
Denver Broncos Received
- pick 2022 2nd round pick (64th overall, Nik Bonitto)
- pick 2022 3rd round pick (96th overall subsequently traded, Nick Cross )
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Von Miller
Trade Analysis
The Rams were not trading for future value when they acquired Von Miller in November 2021. They were trying to finish a championship roster. Los Angeles already had Aaron Donald and Leonard Floyd, and Miller gave the defense another elite pass-rush threat for the final stretch. Denver, meanwhile, was 4-4 and moving toward a transition after a decade in which Miller had become one of the defining players in franchise history.
Miller's regular-season production with Los Angeles was solid rather than spectacular: five sacks in eight games. His value became much clearer in January and February. He recorded four sacks during the Rams' postseason run, including two in Super Bowl LVI, and the Rams' own season review credited him with 22 postseason pressures. Los Angeles beat Cincinnati for the championship, which made the price of two Day 2 picks easy to justify from the Rams' perspective.
Denver's return took longer to mature. The Broncos used the 64th pick in 2022 on Oklahoma edge rusher Nik Bonitto. His development eventually gave the deal a much stronger long-term look for Denver. Bonitto broke out with 13.5 sacks in 2024, earned his first Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro recognition, then followed with 14 sacks in 2025. The third-round pick was later moved rather than becoming a direct Broncos selection.
This is a trade in which both timelines worked. Los Angeles bought a veteran for a specific championship window and received high-leverage postseason production that helped finish the job. Denver accepted draft capital for a star who was nearing the end of his Broncos tenure and eventually found a younger impact pass rusher with the best pick in the return. The Rams still deserve the stronger grade because a Super Bowl was the objective and Miller materially helped them win it, but Bonitto's emergence keeps Denver's side from looking like a simple sacrifice for someone else's title.