Before the Super Bowl back in February, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton made it known that the team was much higher on their current wide receiver room than most would think. Just one week away from the NFL Draft, Payton reaffirmed his stance on that room, but acknowledged that the team could still add to the group.
Denver Broncos pleased with the progress of current wide receiver room
As the NFL Draft approaches in just one week, various mock drafts have the Denver Broncos going with a running back, wide receiver, or defensive lineman. Certainly there are some intriguing receiver prospects in this year’s draft, and Denver could end up adding another into the mix, but head coach Sean Payton reaffirmed his previous stance in February that the team is pleased with their current group of receivers.
ICYMI: Denver Broncos aligned as Payton, Paton prepare for third NFL Draft together
“We drafted two receivers last year,” Payton said. “The good news is, after their first year, we really like their progress. Just take [WR] Marvin [Mims Jr.] for a second from Year 1 to Year 2. We saw the return ability, and we saw glimpses of it in his rookie year. [He had] more production obviously in his second year. [WR] Troy [Franklin], the same way. [He] came in, picked things up. [WR] Courtland [Sutton] is such a positive role model and leader for these guys. [WR Devaughn] Vele, I could even hit on all these guys, just relative to our overall depth.”
Courtland Sutton, Devaughn Vele, Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin, A.T. Perry, Trent Sherfield, and Michael Bandy make up the current depth there. Sutton is the clear-cut WR1, while Vele, Mims, and Franklin seem like the main guys who will be in line for more snaps.
Mims emerged strongly in the second half of last season, accounting for six total touchdowns on 53 catches for 503 yards. His straight line speed is something the Broncos look to feature more of next season, while Franklin looks to play the ‘Z’ role, where he possesses 6’2 size and has Mims-like speed, where he can be featured downfield, but also in the middle of the field and on short-to-intermediate routes.
Vele’s size is something the Broncos envision using him more downfield with and in the short-to-intermediate passing game, where he can work in contested catch situations or on back-shoulder throws. He can be an evolving third-down target depending on how teams play against Sutton, Mims, and Payton’s ‘Joker’ in Evan Engram.
Receiver is always a position to add to despite the evolving roles and hopeful jumps forward from their younger guys, and Denver could do it in the draft or add in free agency after the draft concludes.
“We’re going to add numbers to the position when you look at what we take to training camp, whether that’s through the draft or free agency,” Paton said. “I would say we’re happy with the two we selected a year ago, the one we selected two years ago and the guys that are already here. Now if one of those players arrives in a round where we’re looking at it, that’s the trick to this. You can target guys sometimes. We’re all guilty of really liking a player and then trying to… But let’s not bypass the crystal for a blender if we need a blender. So I think you’re still looking at value. It’s the value-need discussion, and I think that exists in every draft room today. Sometimes you can manipulate that yourself. Certainly in tie breakers it’s important. There are a number of good young receivers in this draft, and we’ll see how that unfolds. I do feel good about that group we have, and I think that they’ve shown obviously last season, the jump we took offensively from where we were at to scoring on offense and all of those things. Obviously the addition of [QB] Bo [Nix], those all contribute to that.”
Some of those potential players could be Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, or Matthew Golden out of Texas if they are available when Denver is on the clock 20th overall. Even if Denver doesn’t go with a wide receiver with any of their Top-100 capital, adding to the position should be something that takes place as a measure of insurance if an injury were to occur at the position at any point of the season.
Regardless, the Broncos are expecting Franklin and Vele to take a leap forward in their second season and they could end up having competition when it’s all said and done.