Broncos general manager Ted Sundquist recently said the upcoming draft would be more about adding value picks and depth to the roster than anything else.
In a move by the most active trading team in the NFL, the Broncos swapped their second first-round pick – No. 22 – to San Francisco on Wednesday for a second-round pick (No. 37) and a third-round pick (No. 68). Denver still has the No. 15 pick in the first round.
The Broncos have built an impressive cache of picks. Denver has four of the first 68 selections, the most of any team in the April 29-30 draft, and seven in the first four rounds. The New York Jets also have seven picks in the first four rounds. Denver has nine picks overall and could use some to acquire more picks or trade for a veteran, such as Green Bay receiver Javon Walker.
Wednesday’s trade was the Broncos’ fourth involving a first-round pick since 2004 and their third involving a 2006 first-round pick. As a result of the flurry of trades, Denver has moved from No. 29 in the first round to the No. 15 pick, which it acquired last month in a three-way trade with Atlanta and the Jets. The No. 22 pick sent to the 49ers was acquired in a trade with Washington last April when Denver received a package of picks for the No. 25 pick in the 2005 draft.
According to a draft value chart used by most NFL teams, the No. 15 pick is worth 780 points. The No. 37 pick is worth 530 and the No. 68 choice is worth 250, making the trade a wash according to the chart.
Trading one of the first-round picks saves the team a first- round salary. The extra second- and third-round picks could be better financial values.
“We took advantage of a great opportunity to acquire a second first-round draft pick today after working out a trade with the Denver Broncos,” 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. “We feel like we acquired more value by making the trade for this pick.”
Sundquist said this week that the Broncos have plenty of flexibility.
Draft speculation points toward Denver targeting a receiver in the first round. The run on receivers likely will begin around the 15th pick, where Denver is slotted. The Broncos have brought in several receiver prospects for visits this week. Ohio State’s Santonio Holmes and Florida’s Chad Jackson are projected to be taken around No. 15. Denver could try to fill needs at running back and tight end on the first day as well.
NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said he expected moves like the one the Broncos made Wednesday.
“It’s kind of interesting, because what Denver did there I kind of anticipated from a couple teams in that 20 to 30 range,” Mayock said. “With the theory being, this draft this year, there is a vast similarity between the picks 20 and 40. There’s an awful lot of good depth in there. A lot of teams have talked about moving out of there and trying to stockpile picks.”
Staff writer Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-820-5450 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
Anatomy of a first-round pick
The Broncos have made three trades involving 2006 first-round picks to give them seven picks in the first four rounds of the April 29-30 draft:
April 2005: Traded the No. 25 pick in 2005 to Washington in a deal that included the No. 22 pick in 2006; also received a 2005 third-round pick and a 2006 fourth-round pick.
March: Traded the No. 29 pick in a three-way deal with Atlanta and the New York Jets for the No. 15 pick.
Wednesday: Traded the No. 22 pick to San Francisco for second- and third-round picks.
The result
A bevy of picks and a journey from No. 29 to No. 15 in the first round
