Von Miller is one of the greatest defensive players in Denver Broncos history. Miller was named the MVP of Super Bowl 50, leading the Broncos to an upset victory over league MVP, QB Cam Newton, and the Carolina Panthers. The ferocious edge rusher spent a decade in Mile High, terrorizing the opposition. So why did Denver deal the future Hall of Famer?
Von Miller Trade Details
Let’s look at what the Broncos received in the Miller trade.
Broncos Received:
- 2022 second-round pick: Nik Bonitto
- 2022 third-round pick: (traded for future picks)
Rams Received:
- DE/OLB Von Miller
Why Did Denver Trade Miller?
Denver experienced a downslide and was not competing. Miller, who had an expiring contract and large demands, gave the front office pause. He would be entering his age-32 season with a new contract if the Broncos could re-sign him, and that was far from a certainty.
Aging players don’t fetch Day 1 or Day 2 draft picks, but Miller had a certain untouchable aura about him. It was perceived that he would be one of the few players to escape father time and continue to perform at a ridiculously high level.
Denver placed the veteran pass rusher on the trading block, and the Los Angeles Rams obliged. The Rams front office, notorious for their carefree manner in how they handle draft picks, saw a title window with recently acquired veteran signal-caller QB Matthew Stafford and decided to strike.
The Rams sent 2022 second and third-round selections to Denver, and Miller left the only franchise he knew for the Super Bowl-or-bust Rams. Los Angeles did indeed win the Super Bowl, and Miller was one of the catalysts — becoming only the second player in NFL history to register two sacks in a Super Bowl twice.
The market for Miller’s services in free agency was more robust than even the most optimistic capologist would have thought. The Rams would have loved to have kept him, but Miller played his way out of Los Angeles’ price range.
In 2022, the former Super Bowl MVP signed a six-year, $120 million contract with the Buffalo Bills.
Who Won the Miller Trade?
The Rams were winners since they hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy, partly due to Miller’s playoff performance, including a dominant Super Bowl. To the victors go the spoils, and the Rams took home the title. Long-term ramifications be damned, Los Angeles brought a title to Hollywood, so the deal clearly worked.
For Denver, it’s a bit more complicated. Acquiring premium draft capital for an aging veteran to help the franchise rebuild was a savvy maneuver. Turning around and signing an older veteran pass rusher in Randy Gregory to a similar contract, however, is puzzling.
MORE: How Many Teams Has Von Miller Played For?
The franchise’s lust to fix their QB position led them to deal a second-round pick, a third-round pick, and much more to the Seattle Seahawks for QB Russell Wilson. Not even the most ardent Wilson supporters would suggest the deal for the veteran signal-caller has become an unmitigated disaster of which the franchise has been held hostage for years.
The trade was fair compensation for Miller, but what Denver did with the compensation is a mistake the franchise will pay for — for years to come.
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