9. The Jurrell Casey Trade (2020)
The Denver Broncos had a clear need on the defensive line heading into the 2020 offseason with all three starters hitting the free agent market.
Although they ultimately failed to acquire their number one target (Houston’s DJ Reader, who signed in Cincinnati), the Broncos acted quickly and made one of the best trades in John Elway’s tenure, regardless if it works out or not.
The Broncos acquired five-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jurrell Casey from the Tennessee Titans for the low, low price of a seventh-round pick.
You never know how desperate teams are to add cap space, but watching the value they get in trades for veteran players is one way to find out.
The Titans were obviously very desperate this offseason to retain quarterback Ryan Tannehill along with running back Derrick Henry, and Casey got in the line of fire.
It’s hard to do better than this with a seventh-round draft pick. The success rate of seventh-round picks is not great anyway, so getting a veteran player who can come in and have an immediate impact while also being a leader and captain-type in your locker room?
This was a phenomenal trade no matter what ultimately happens.