Denver Broncos: Trading for Gino Gradkowski A Bad Move

The Denver Broncos and head coach Gary Kubiak acquired center Gino Gradkowski in a trade with Baltimore Ravens this past week per Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. The trade cost Denver a fourth-round pick in 2016, but in addition to Gradkowski they will receive a fifth rounder from the Ravens in next year’s draft.

While many fans and experts might look at this move as a sound decision by the Broncos due to their offensive line needing a lot of help, it’s a move that is without a doubt a head scratcher if you look at the numbers.

Jan 3, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Baltimore Ravens center Jeremy Zuttah (53) defends against Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward (93) in an AFC wild card playoff game at Heinz Field. The Ravens defeated the Steelers 30-17. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Gradkowski was the full-time starter for the Ravens in 2013 at center, playing in all 16 games. During that time, he wasn’t just bad, he was literally the worst rated center in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. He was so bad that that year that in 2014 he was sent to the bench when the Ravens traded for Jeremy Zuttah from Tampa Bay – relegating Gradkowski to only spot duty in eight games this past season.

More from Denver Broncos

One of the reasons this trade is such a befuddling move is that Gary Kubiak was the offensive coordinator in Baltimore when the decision to bench Gradkowski was made in 2014. If he was not good enough to play full-time there, why would Kubiak and the Broncos give up a future fourth-rounder to bring him to Denver? The cap space Gradkowski will take up isn’t bad at about 1.5 million, but at that number it seems that Denver could have made other moves. Will Montgomery was available in free agency until last week as well, and they knew what they had in him.

It is highly doubtful this move will mean that the Broncos do not go after a center in the draft, possibly with an early pick. What the team has currently on the offensive line even after the trade for Gradkowski is simply not good enough to compete game in and game out in the NFL, especially when you consider how immobile quarterback Peyton Manning is. The good news for Denver is that there several options in the draft in terms of guys that can play multiple positions on the line. The bad news is that Denver has other needs as well, and at what point do they realize they are just stockpiling mediocre linemen instead of going after top talent?

Jan 20, 2015; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos executive vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway (left) head coach Gary Kubiak (center) and president Joe Ellis (right) pose for a photo following the press conference at the Broncos training facility. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Kubiak is a loyal guy. It is one of the reasons he wanted to come back to Denver to coach, as he was once a long time back-up at quarterback for the Broncos. It is probably a big reason why he has brought in half a dozen ex players from Baltimore and Houston that he has coached in those cities to play for him in Denver. But loyalty can have a price when it blinds you from reality, and the reality in this case is that Gradkowski isn’t a quality player. John Elway and Kubiak need to take a hard look at these players histories when making future decisions.

Hopefully for Broncos fans, the team will bring in a quality starter or two on the offensive line with draft picks, and they won’t have to worry about a guy like Gradkowski being the difference between a trip to the playoffs and a mid- first-round pick in 2016.

Next: Denver Broncos: 5 Best Offseason Moves

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/Denver Broncos