Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos completed this exchange…
Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos completed this exchange on 1993-08-23. Zimmerman immediately started for Denver and remained a cornerstone through the club's rise to consecutive Super Bowl championships, earning further Pro Bowl and All-Pro recognition. Minnesota's return was excellent and would win many trades: Washington and Thomas gave the Vikings years of starting secondary play. Following the acquired picks only through moves actually made by the receiving clubs, the overall result is Denver Broncos Win.
Minnesota Vikings Received
- player Vance Johnson
- pick 1994 first round pick (#18-DeWayne Washington)
- pick 1994 sixth round pick (#179-Andrew Jordan)
- pick 1995 second round pick (#42-Orlando Thomas)
Denver Broncos Received
- player Gary Zimmerman
Trade Analysis
Why the Deal Happened
Denver acquired Hall of Fame left tackle Gary Zimmerman from Minnesota on August 23, 1993. The Vikings received veteran receiver Vance Johnson plus Denver's 1994 first- and sixth-round choices and a 1995 second-round choice. The price was substantial, but Denver was buying an elite left tackle for a team built around John Elway, while Minnesota chose to convert an established star into several younger assets.
What Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos Received
Zimmerman immediately started for Denver and remained a cornerstone through the club's rise to consecutive Super Bowl championships, earning further Pro Bowl and All-Pro recognition. Minnesota used the first-round pick on DeWayne Washington, who developed into a long-term NFL defensive back, and the 1995 second-rounder on Orlando Thomas, who started 87 games for the Vikings and intercepted 22 passes. Andrew Jordan also came from the sixth-round pick.
How the Value Developed
Minnesota's return was excellent and would win many trades: Washington and Thomas gave the Vikings years of starting secondary play. Denver still gets the narrow edge because Zimmerman was already an elite left tackle and delivered championship-level value at one of football's most important positions. This is closer to a mutually beneficial blockbuster than a fleecing. The Broncos receive the top grade for maximizing the final elite years of a Hall of Famer.
Final Verdict
Denver Broncos Win. Minnesota Vikings receives a A- and Denver Broncos receives a A. The grading credits direct on-field production and follows an acquired draft choice into a later trade only when that same asset was actually controlled and moved by the receiving club. That approach avoids assigning another team's eventual selection to the wrong side and keeps the verdict tied to value each franchise truly realized.