Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins exchanged John Stofa for…
Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins exchanged John Stofa for 1972 seventh round pick (#161-Bill Adams). Stofa brought prior starting experience and is remembered for his earlier role in Cincinnati history, but his playing career had effectively ended by the time Denver acquired him. The asset chain produced no regular-season benefit for either acquiring team. In hindsight, neither side created a meaningful advantage, so the exchange remains even after weighing actual post-trade service rather than the names or nominal asset types involved.
Denver Broncos Received
- player John Stofa
Miami Dolphins Received
- pick 1972 seventh round pick (#161-Bill Adams)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Denver acquired quarterback John Stofa from Miami in November 1971 and sent the Dolphins a 1972 seventh-round pick, later used at No. 161 on Bill Adams.
Denver Broncos Return
Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins exchanged John Stofa for 1972 seventh round pick (#161-Bill Adams). Stofa brought prior starting experience and is remembered for his earlier role in Cincinnati history, but his playing career had effectively ended by the time Denver acquired him. The asset chain produced no regular-season benefit for either acquiring team. In hindsight, neither side created a meaningful advantage, so the exchange remains even after weighing actual post-trade service rather than the names or nominal asset types involved.
Miami Dolphins Return
Miami Dolphins sent John Stofa and received 1972 seventh round pick (#161-Bill Adams). Miami converted Stofa into a seventh-round selection and used it on Bill Adams. The asset chain produced no regular-season benefit for either acquiring team. In hindsight, neither side created a meaningful advantage, so the exchange remains even after weighing actual post-trade service rather than the names or nominal asset types involved.
Value in Hindsight
The asset chain produced no regular-season benefit for either acquiring team. Denver got no games from Stofa, while Miami's draft choice became an NFL player only after leaving the Dolphins. That makes it inappropriate to credit Miami simply because the pick eventually belonged to a player with a career elsewhere.
The grade also avoids rewarding either side simply for acquiring a named veteran or a numbered draft choice. The useful question is what the new club actually received after the transaction: games, starts, production, roster longevity, or a traceable downstream selection. That realized-value test keeps a small historical exchange from being overstated.
Final Verdict
The trade finishes even at C- for both clubs. Each side obtained a plausible low-cost asset, but neither converted that asset into actual regular-season production for its own team.