NFL’s First Trade of 2011 Finalized: Broncos Send WR Jabar Gaffney to Washington Redskins

According to ESPN reports, the Denver Broncos have traded wide receiver Jabar Gaffney to the Washington Redskins for defensive tackle Jeremy Jarmon.

The Broncos have one of the deepest wide receiver groups in the NFL, and are moving to a run-oriented offense, so there is really no need to keep every single guy around, risking having to cut someone or losing value with an injury over training camp, and they feel like they got a good, young athlete in return in Jeremy Jarmon.

I like this trade for both sides. The Redskins have now effectively added three veteran receivers to help out their young trio of rookies (plus second year player Anthony Armstrong) in Leonard Hankerson, Aldrick Robinson, and Niles Paul. Yesterday they added Donte Stallworth and re-signed veteran Santana Moss, so you can all but pencil in Moss and Gaffney as the 1-2 in Washington with Stallworth coming out of the slot.

The Broncos add the 6’3″ 285 pound Jarmon who can play both end and tackle in the 4-3 scheme. He is still only 23 years old, so he has some upside, but to this point he only has 0.5 career sacks. Denver is also in talks to try and sign veteran defensive tackles Brandon Mebane and Marcus Thomas.

A solid trade for both sides, and one that could pay both immediate and long term dividends.