Denver acquired linebacker Joe Mays for J.J. Arrington and a…
Denver acquired linebacker Joe Mays for J.J. Arrington and a conditional 2012 sixth-round pick that ultimately became No. 194, Marvin McNutt. Mays grew into a useful defensive contributor, including a 70-tackle 2011 season for the Broncos. Arrington never produced for Philadelphia, while McNutt made little NFL impact. The exchange gave Denver multiple seasons of real linebacker value for a return that generated almost nothing on the field.
Denver Broncos Received
- player Joe Mays
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- player J.J. Arrington
- pick 2012 conditional 6th round pick (194th overall, Marvin McNutt )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Denver acquired linebacker Joe Mays from Philadelphia in July 2010. The Eagles received veteran running back J.J. Arrington and a conditional 2012 sixth-round pick. The condition was triggered when Arrington did not make Denver's roster, and the eventual selection became No. 194, wide receiver Marvin McNutt.
Denver Broncos Return
Mays was not a star, but he became useful quickly. He appeared in 12 games for Denver in 2010 and then played all 16 in 2011, recording 70 tackles. His downhill style fit a defense that needed sturdier interior linebacker play, and he remained with the Broncos into 2012. That is meaningful value from a transaction built around a player Philadelphia no longer needed.
Philadelphia Eagles Return
Arrington never became part of Philadelphia's offense, so the future pick carried nearly all of the Eagles' eventual value. McNutt was a late-round receiver with limited NFL production and did not establish a lasting role for Philadelphia. The conditional mechanism at least prevented the Eagles from walking away empty-handed when Arrington failed to stick, but the resulting asset did not become a notable contributor.
Value in Hindsight
This is a straightforward case where one side converted expendable pieces into several seasons of usable snaps. Denver did not uncover an elite defender, yet Mays supplied far more actual team value than Philadelphia received from either Arrington or McNutt. The low cost also matters: the Broncos were not surrendering premium capital or a productive starter.
Final Verdict
Denver earns a B and Philadelphia a D+. Mays gave the Broncos dependable linebacker depth and one season of significant tackle production, while the Eagles' return never developed. The scale of the trade was modest, but the practical outcome clearly favored Denver.