As the clock counted down to the deadline for trades to be made in the NFL this season on Tuesday, the Denver Broncos pulled off the rare trade within the division.
Teams around the league rarely trade players to a divisional opponent and, in some cases, want to send them to the other conference. But things are getting desperate for Jim Harbaugh and his 0-8 Los Angeles Chargers and that led to a deadline deal in which the Broncos acquired linebacker Daiyan Henley for a fourth-round pick in 2027 and a fifth-round pick in 2028.
While it wasn't Jonathan Taylor, a tight end or a new piece along the offensive line, this was a terrific move by the Broncos' front office. Here's why.
Broncos make perfect move in trading for Daiyan Henley
A third-round pick in 2023 out of Washington State, Henley has been a solid
starter for the Chargers, playing in 56 games with 41 starts. He has registered 317 career tackles with five sacks and four interceptions, two of which he has returned for touchdowns.
Though many fans were hoping for an upgrade on the offensive side of the ball, we can't forget what the team's biggest weakness was heading into the season: inside linebacker. While Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad have held their own, Henley could eventually start over either of them.
Henley is aggressive, a strong tackler, and, most importantly, he holds up in coverage. This was a nice move for the Broncos and though they are getting him on an expiring contract, it was worth it to add him to a roster that is among the league's top contenders.
Here's an idea of the player the Broncos are getting:
The Chargers reportedly tried to extend Daiyan Henley and couldn't, so getting back a fourth and a fifth round pick back for him is a win.
— Locked On Chargers (@LockedonLAC) November 10, 2026
But also, they traded away the number one locker room guy on the team to a division rival and didn't do nearly enough at the deadline. pic.twitter.com/ACXTYzrIfX
As mentioned there, the Broncos are getting a great leader and that should only bring this defensive unit together even more.
Finally, the move comes as the Broncos are entering their bye week, giving them extra time to get Henley acclimated to his new surroundings as well as a chance to work with his new teammates and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph before having to take the field. Fans should expect to see a lot of him quickly.
This wasn't the deal that was going to send breaking news alerts to everyone's smartphones, but it was an ideal, affordable move for a team looking to add another piece to what could be a championship puzzle. Credit to the Broncos' front office for making this decision.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Why Broncos made the perfect move before NFL's trade deadline
