Denver traded linebacker Malik Reed and a 2023 seventh-round…
Denver traded linebacker Malik Reed and a 2023 seventh-round pick to Pittsburgh for a 2023 sixth-round selection. The Steelers used the seventh on Cory Trice, while Denver's incoming sixth later moved through another deal and became tied to A.T. Perry. Reed spent one season in Pittsburgh and did not become a long-term starter there. Denver's ability to turn a departing depth defender into the higher draft asset gives the Broncos a slight edge.
Denver Broncos Received
- pick 2023 6th round pick (195th overall subsequently traded, A.T. Perry )
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- player Malik Reed
- pick 2023 7th round pick (241st overall, Cory Trice )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Just before the 2022 season, Denver sent edge defender Malik Reed and its 2023 seventh-round selection to Pittsburgh for the Steelers' 2023 sixth-round pick. Pittsburgh wanted immediate linebacker depth after roster changes, while Denver had enough depth to move Reed and improve its future draft position. The seventh-rounder became Cory Trice at No. 241. Denver's sixth-round asset was No. 195 and later moved again, eventually connecting to A.T. Perry.
Denver Broncos Return
Denver's return was primarily about converting a player entering the final year of his contract into better draft capital. The Broncos moved from a seventh-round commitment to ownership of a sixth-round pick while also clearing a crowded edge group. They later used that sixth-round asset in another trade rather than making the selection themselves. Even without a direct Denver draftee, retaining and redeploying a higher pick represented useful roster-management value.
Pittsburgh Steelers Return
Pittsburgh received Reed for immediate depth and also kept a draft selection through the accompanying seventh-rounder. Reed appeared for the Steelers during the 2022 season but did not develop into a long-term fixture. Trice offered developmental upside from the seventh-round choice. The package was reasonable for a team seeking short-term help, but it did not generate enough sustained production to overcome the higher future selection Pittsburgh surrendered.
Value in Hindsight
The trade was inexpensive on both sides, so the difference should remain narrow. Pittsburgh acquired a usable veteran for one season and a late pick; Denver improved the quality of its draft asset and maintained flexibility by moving that asset again later. Because Reed's contribution was temporary, the higher-round pick carries more lasting value in hindsight. Still, the absence of a star or major starter keeps this firmly in the minor-trade range.
Final Verdict
Denver earns a C+ and Pittsburgh a C. The Broncos turned expendable depth into a better future pick, while the Steelers received a short-term contributor and a seventh-round developmental player. Pittsburgh's logic was defensible, but the lasting asset value sits slightly more on Denver's side. The result is a modest Broncos win rather than a significant mistake by the Steelers.