Denver Broncos: Denver received Rick Sharp, who supplied one…
Denver Broncos: Denver received Rick Sharp, who supplied one limited season and little lasting value for the Broncos. The D grade reflects only value tied directly to this transaction, including production or draft value the club itself controlled. Against Pittsburgh Steelers, that supported return leads to the final verdict of Pittsburgh Steelers Win.
Denver Broncos Received
- player Rick Sharp
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- pick 1973 eighth round pick (#192-Loren Toews)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Denver acquired Rick Sharp from Pittsburgh on September 20, 1972 for a 1973 eighth-round pick. Pittsburgh used No. 192 on Loren Toews. The hindsight comparison stays tied to assets that remained connected to this deal. Later success counts only when the club still controlled the player or draft capital produced by the trade, which keeps a modest exchange from being inflated by unrelated moves.
Denver Broncos Return
Denver received Rick Sharp, who supplied one limited season and little lasting value for the Broncos. The D grade reflects the duration, role, and usefulness of that return. Immediate roster value matters, but short stays or assets that failed to produce meaningful game value limit the ceiling. The grade is scaled to the modest acquisition cost rather than judged against a blockbuster standard.
Pittsburgh Steelers Return
Pittsburgh used the pick on Loren Toews, who became a long-term Steelers linebacker and an important contributor during the franchise's championship run. The A grade applies the same measure. Draft choices receive credit for what the club actually obtained or directly converted, while player returns are judged by games, starts, role, and sustained usefulness. That creates a consistent comparison across two very different forms of value.
Value in Hindsight
Toews' sustained defensive value makes Pittsburgh the decisive winner. The result is driven by documented direct value rather than hypothetical alternatives. A low-cost trade can still be a clear win when one side receives useful seasons and the other gets almost nothing, while similarly small returns support an even result.
Final Verdict
The final call is Pittsburgh Steelers Win. Final grades: Denver Broncos D, Pittsburgh Steelers A. The judgment reflects the supported trade package, direct production, and any downstream draft value the acquiring club itself controlled. It does not assign credit for unrelated later success or penalize either club for outcomes outside this transaction.