 Going into the 1983 NFL Draft, Hinton was regarded as the top offensive guard and a top ten overall prospect by the majority of scouts and analysts.The Denver Broncos selected Hinton with the fourth overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft, making him the first guard and first offensive lineman taken.The team traded him to the Baltimore Colts, along with quarterback Mark Herrmann and the Broncos' first round pick in the 1984 NFL Draft, for the first overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft, quarterback John Elway.