The Denver Broncos were a team that was talked about as much as any around the NFL trade deadline and on Tuesday, just ahead of the deadline, the team made a major move.
The Broncos were rumored to have many players on the trade block and it seemed a number of different deals could be made. In the end, the team only moved the most prominent name on the potential trades list, sending former first-round pick Bradley Chubb to the Miami Dolphins.
For the second year in a row, George Paton has traded the top pass-rusher on his roster, sending that player to a contender in exchange for help in the future.
While many fans are likely sad to see Chubb go, the Broncos received a healthy package in return.
So how did Paton do with this trade? The general manager has been active in making deals during his time in Denver and now it’s time to grade this one out.
What grade should the Broncos receive for trading Bradley Chubb?
Chubb is definitely having a bounce-back year, netting 5.5 sacks already and looking like the player the Broncos used a first-round pick on in 2018. He has been dominant in almost every game and his play this year has been one of the true bright spots for the team.
But a perfect storm allowed him to be dealt and the Dolphins were willing to enter the mix.
If the Broncos were having the season that many expected them to have, it’s likely that this trade does not take place. The other side of things is that Chubb has not exactly been productive for a large portion of his career in Denver and that can’t be swept under the rug just because he’s off to a good start this year.
Primarily, Chubb has dealt with injuries and missed many games in his time with the Broncos.
Had the Broncos not traded Chubb, there would have been the matter of signing him to a long-term deal next year as he was set to become an unrestricted free agent.
And while the Dolphins are getting a player who has the ability to be one of the game’s best pass-rushers, it’s hard to argue with what the Broncos received in return.
The moment the Broncos found a team willing to give up a first-round pick in this deal, it had to be a resounding “yes” as an answer to the proposal.
The pick the Broncos received in the first round next year could easily be a low one as it originally belonged to the San Francisco 49ers and was sent to Miami as part of the Trey Lance deal. The 49ers look like a brand new team since bringing in Christian McCaffrey in another recent trade.
Still, one of the most troubling facts heading into next season was that the Broncos did not have a pick in either of the first two rounds of the draft.
Those picks belong to the Seattle Seahawks as part of the Russell Wilson deal so getting back into the first round in 2023 is huge for this team. The Broncos also got a fourth-rounder the following year.
However, the aspect of this trade that I really like is the addition of running back Chase Edmonds.
The Broncos have had plenty of trouble at the running back position this year with Javonte Williams suffering a season-ending injury, Mike Boone being placed on injured reserve with a bum ankle and Melvin Gordon being, well not very good.
Edmonds went from being an interesting free-agent signing by the Dolphins this offseason to a player they barely used in recent weeks. But he is only 26 years old and could be a much better fit in Denver than in Miami.
Edmonds will likely see work on third downs for the Broncos as he is an excellent option as a receiver out of the backfield.
Unlike Von Miller last year, Chubb is still young and could have his best days ahead of him. But for a team that is 3-5 and has played as bad as the Broncos have, retrieving a first-round pick for next year was a thought that Paton could not pass up. Mainly for that reason, but also for the other pieces he obtained, this was a great move.
Trade Grade: A