The Denver Broncos did not make a move on Tuesday at the NFL Trade Deadline, and that’s because Sean Payton and George Paton like the direction their current team is heading. But was it the right move?
You can make an argument that the Broncos, especially on the offensive side of the ball, could have added a playmaker at wide receiver or tight end to try to help boost that side of the ball. There were rumblings of Jaylen Waddle in Miami, but the Dolphins’ asking price was too high to move off of their top-tier wide receiver.
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In Sean Payton’s tenure as a head coach throughout his entire career, he’s never traded for a wide receiver at the deadline. Being around the building, the locker room has echoed the sentiment that they all believe in the group of guys that they have, and that’s what Payton told them.
“I saw a lot of that,” Payton said. “We’ve invested in and like this group and where we are going.”
“It just shows the confidence we have in the team that we have,” Nik Bonitto said. “Obviously, we are off to a really good start, and obviously, we’re doing something right — they have trust in us, so we’ve got to keep it going.”
There are legit arguments that can be made about why the Broncos should have added someone at the deadline, but ultimately, the price to acquire mattered.
Organizationally, Payton and general manager George Paton’s philosophy is deeply invested in drafting and developing players. They drafted Marvin Mims, Pat Bryant, and Troy Franklin, while Courtland Sutton just received a long-term contract extension that will keep him with the team for the remainder of his career.
Four receivers are important to have, and it’s hard at times to feed all four, but adding another name into the mix makes the rotation tricky, especially when you factor in special teams. Trent Sherfield is the fifth receiver, and he plays some snaps on offense, but he’s primarily a special teams guy at the position.
The Broncos love their receivers and are focused on developing them further.