The Denver Broncos backed out of their trade for Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley late Wednesday night, roughly 30 hours after the two AFC West rivals agreed to it, as first reported by ClutchPoints.
The deal, struck just before Tuesday’s trade deadline, would have sent a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick to Los Angeles, pending a physical. Denver’s statement on X said the trade “will not be finalized” and wished Henley well, but didn’t say what went wrong. Henley was on last week’s injury report with a shoulder issue before practicing in full.
The IAHHM Take
Getting traded within your own division is awkward. Getting un-traded is a whole new level. Henley found out he’s headed to a contender, then found out he isn’t, all in about a day and a half.
The Chargers didn’t seem upset. They posted a “Welcome back, Daiyan” message, and they should be happy. On an 0-8 team, Henley leads them with 51 tackles and just had 10 tackles and an interception against Houston. He’s a two-time captain. That’s the kind of player you build around in a rebuild, not dump for Day 3 picks.
Denver is 7-2 heading into the bye after beating the Carolina Panthers 26-21, but now they stand pat at inside linebacker. If the snag was medical, fair enough. If it wasn’t, this could look like a missed shot at a starter for cheap.
Speaking of deadline moves, see how Odell Beckham Jr.’s Vikings debut went this week.
Your call: Who comes out better here, the Broncos who kept their picks or the Chargers who kept their captain?
Source: ClutchPoints
