Indianapolis sent offensive tackle Jim Mills to Denver for a…
Indianapolis sent offensive tackle Jim Mills to Denver for a future undisclosed draft choice. Contemporary reporting supports that general compensation but not the previously listed exact conditional tenth-round description. Because no reliable later selection can be tied to the deal, the Colts' return remains modest and difficult to value beyond the fact that they received future draft consideration. A C grade is appropriate.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- pick future undisclosed draft choice
Denver Broncos Received
- player Jim Mills (Anthony)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1986-05-19, Indianapolis Colts received future undisclosed draft choice, while Denver Broncos received Jim Mills (Anthony). The exchange is supported by the historical transaction and draft records carried into this review, allowing the two returns to be judged by the value each club actually controlled after the deal.
Indianapolis Colts Return
Indianapolis sent offensive tackle Jim Mills to Denver for a future undisclosed draft choice. Contemporary reporting supports that general compensation but not the previously listed exact conditional tenth-round description. Because no reliable later selection can be tied to the deal, the Colts' return remains modest and difficult to value beyond the fact that they received future draft consideration. A C grade is appropriate. The grade reflects the practical value of that return rather than the reputation or theoretical value of the asset on the day of the trade.
Denver Broncos Return
Denver acquired offensive tackle Jim Mills in May 1986, but released him before the regular season. The Broncos therefore did not obtain meaningful regular-season value from the player they added. With Indianapolis also lacking a clearly traceable realized draft payoff, Denver's side settles at C, matching an even result in a transaction that produced little lasting benefit for either club. The same standard applies on this side: tangible playing value and clearly retained draft capital matter more than an eventual asset's label alone.
Value in Hindsight
The best-supported description of the compensation is simply a future undisclosed draft choice. Using that wording avoids assigning a round or later player that the available record does not substantiate. On the field, Mills did not survive to Denver's regular-season roster, and the Colts' return cannot be tied to a material later payoff, leaving the exchange essentially even.
Final Verdict
The final call is Even Trade. Indianapolis Colts earns C, and Denver Broncos earns C. Those grades reflect the supported package and the relative football value each side realized, while keeping the scale of the transaction in proper context.