Denver Broncos received Dan Gronkowski and 2011 6th round…
Denver Broncos received Dan Gronkowski and 2011 6th round pick (186th overall subsequently traded, D.J. Smith). Denver received Dan Gronkowski and a 2011 sixth-round choice. The package supplied only modest direct value, and neither piece matched the defensive production Detroit received from Alphonso Smith. Compared with Detroit Lions' return, the result supports a C- grade and fits the Detroit Lions Win verdict.
Denver Broncos Received
- player Dan Gronkowski
- pick 2011 6th round pick (186th overall subsequently traded, D.J. Smith )
Detroit Lions Received
- player Alphonso Smith
- pick 2011 7th round pick (forfeited due to tampering)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 2010-09-04, Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions completed an exchange in which Denver Broncos received Dan Gronkowski and 2011 6th round pick (186th overall subsequently traded, D.J. Smith), while Detroit Lions received Alphonso Smith and 2011 7th round pick (forfeited due to tampering). Both sides obtained identifiable football assets, so the hindsight evaluation turns on what those assets became and how much practical value they delivered after the move.
Denver Broncos Return
Denver received Dan Gronkowski and a 2011 sixth-round choice. The package supplied only modest direct value, and neither piece matched the defensive production Detroit received from Alphonso Smith. That outcome is the main reason Denver Broncos receives a C- grade. The value here is measured by actual contribution and staying power rather than by the number of pieces in the package. In a minor transaction, even a useful role player or durable starter can create a meaningful edge.
Detroit Lions Return
Alphonso Smith intercepted eight passes and scored two defensive touchdowns during his Detroit tenure, including five interceptions in 2010. The separate forfeited seventh-round choice added no realized draft value, but Smith alone gave Detroit the stronger return. That result supports a B+ grade for Detroit Lions. The return has to be judged against what the other club received, not simply by whether the acquired player or pick reached the roster. The comparison therefore emphasizes sustained contribution, role importance, and the eventual usefulness of any draft capital.
Value in Hindsight
Splitting the bundled assets clarifies the exchange without changing the outcome. Smith's ball production comfortably outweighs Denver's direct return, giving Detroit the clear edge. The exchange was not necessarily unreasonable when it was made, but the later outcomes provide a clearer basis for grading it. Hindsight separates the original cost from the production that followed and shows which club converted its side of the deal into more meaningful football value.
Final Verdict
The final call is Detroit Lions Win. Denver Broncos receives a C-, while Detroit Lions receives a B+. Those grades reflect the documented package and the downstream results attached to it. The deciding factor is the relative quality and duration of the returns, which gives the stronger side the advantage without overstating a transaction that was generally modest in scale.