Denver acquired Walt Cudzik from New England as part of the…
Denver acquired Walt Cudzik from New England as part of the consideration for the draft rights to quarterback Jack Concannon. Concannon was the Patriots' first overall AFL selection but signed with Philadelphia in the NFL instead, leaving New England without the intended quarterback value. Denver at least received a usable player, giving the Broncos the modest hindsight advantage.
Denver Broncos Received
- player Walt Cudzik
New England Patriots Received
- pick draft rights to Jack Concannon
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Denver received Walt Cudzik from New England in a 1964 transaction tied to the Patriots' draft rights to quarterback Jack Concannon. New England's historical media guide describes Cudzik as partial payment for those rights. Concannon had been the Patriots' first overall AFL selection, making the rights the central value piece on New England's side.
Denver Broncos Return
Denver acquired Walt Cudzik from New England as part of the consideration for the draft rights to quarterback Jack Concannon. Concannon was the Patriots' first overall AFL selection but signed with Philadelphia in the NFL instead, leaving New England without the intended quarterback value. Denver at least received a usable player, giving the Broncos the modest hindsight advantage.
Boston/New England Patriots Return
New England gave up Walt Cudzik while receiving the draft rights to Jack Concannon, the franchise's first overall AFL selection. Concannon chose Philadelphia in the NFL and never delivered the quarterback value New England sought. Because the Patriots could not convert the rights into service while Denver received a usable player, the deal grades in the Broncos' favor.
Value in Hindsight
Rights trades can look attractive on paper because the upside of a coveted prospect is easy to imagine, but the grade has to account for whether the player actually joined the club. New England acquired a potentially valuable negotiating position and then realized none of the intended on-field return. Denver, by contrast, received a player it could use. That does not make the Broncos' side a major triumph, because Cudzik was not a franchise-changing acquisition. It does, however, give Denver the better practical result. The difference between a usable roster player and unrealized rights is enough to separate the grades without overstating the importance of the deal.
Final Verdict
Denver gets the win. A C+ reflects modest but real value from Cudzik, while New England's D reflects draft rights that never became Patriots service. The Broncos simply received more usable football value from the transaction.