Happy Monday, Broncos Country! Happy because Monday is, indeed, coming to an end for most of us this afternoon.
For today’s coverage, there wasn’t much newsworthy items to discuss, but I did come across an interesting story on Denver and the timeline around their acquisition of wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. So let’s start with that.
Broncos daily recap
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated got the details on the Broncos trade with the Miami Dolphins and it was a timeline that stretched back to just before the trade deadline
last year. It is definitely worth the read, and I would say Breer’s analysis of the trade for Denver is about where most of land on the deal too:
For the Broncos, their roster is the point where they have few holes left to fill. They still have seven picks, and three of the top 111 in 2026, and project to have 10 for 2027 (with comp picks for John Franklin-Myers and P.J. Locke factored in). They also get Waddle at $68.6 million over the next three years. That’s an APY of $23 million, which is less than the new-money APY on the deal they gave Courtland Sutton last summer. Yes, if Waddle balls out, he could come back to the table. But that would be a good problem to have.
And with Nix on a rookie contract for at least another year, this was always the time to be aggressive, particularly if they could get a player who could open up things for their other skill players, and enhance their play by allowing them to slot into complementary roles.
The part about Bo Nix being on a rookie deal is likely why many of us were bustled by the lack of moves by Denver to start free agency. So this trade was a godsend for us on that front too.
Under the radar
More Jaylen Waddle reaction from Matt Harmon that was a good watch.
The FEED happenings
MichaelD5 asks what the Broncos should do with their remaining salary cap. I’m of the mind they use that to extend some more of their own guys — Marvin Mims Jr. and Ja’Quan McMillian come to mind.
Post your own thoughts on MHR’s Feed.
Broncos history
Trading a first round pick for a player isn’t something the Broncos have done a ton of over the last 45 years, but they’ve done it quite a few times in just the last four. Here are the last five times Denver has traded a first round pick for a player:
QB John Elway (1983) — Traded their 1984 first-round pick (#19 overall), QB Mark Herrmann, and OG Chris Hinton to the Baltimore Colts. Easily the most consequential trade in franchise history.
OT Gary Zimmerman (1993) — Traded their 1994 first-round pick, a 1994 sixth-round pick, and a 1995 second-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings. Zimmerman went on to make the Hall of Fame as a Bronco.
QB Russell Wilson (2022) — Traded their 2022 first-round pick, 2023 first-round pick, two second-rounders, a fifth-rounder, plus QB Drew Lock, TE Noah Fant, and DE Shelby Harris to the Seattle Seahawks. Two first-rounders in one deal — and it didn’t work out.
HC Sean Payton (2023) — Traded their 2023 first-round pick (#29 overall, acquired from Miami in the Bradley Chubb trade) and a 2024 second-round pick to the New Orleans Saints. A rare case of trading a first-rounder for a head coach.
WR Jaylen Waddle (2026) — Traded their 2026 first-round pick (#30 overall), plus third- and fourth-round picks, to the Miami Dolphins.
This is a pretty solid track record. The only whiff/bust of a trade was the one for Russell Wilson who proved to be nowhere near the quality of quarterback everyone had expected in Denver and he hasn’t really done anything anywhere else since either. Outside of that, though, three Hall of Famers or future Hall of Famers and Jaylen Waddle.
I like those odds. How about you?
