As Bo Nix heads into his second season as the Denver Broncos quarterback, the team has a handful of wide receivers who could help him take the next step forward this upcoming season.
Denver Broncos Training Camp Preview: Bo Nix has plenty of weapons
Going into training camp, the Denver Broncos have a laundry list of wide receivers that will get plenty of reps throughout every practice and preseason game. Courtland Sutton returns as Nix’s favorite target, where the pair connected for 81 catches and eight touchdowns last season.
Marvin Mims turned on the burners late last season, accounting for six touchdowns down the stretch despite only playing 27% of the team’s offensive snaps. Mims will be in line for more snaps this season, but still could fall into the designation as a gadget player alongside Troy Franklin.
Franklin has a similar speed to Mims but comes in at 6’2 and could see more time across the middle of the field, re-igniting he and Nix’s successful connection that they had at the University of Oregon in 2022 and 2023.
Devaughn Vele comes in as a 6’5 sizeable and athletic playmaker, who projects to have a more solidified role in 2025. Vele saw the second-most snaps behind Sutton last year, playing 53% of the team’s offensive snaps ahead of Lil’Jordan Humphrey. By percentage, Vele was the team’s WR2 and projects to be a pillar opposite of Sutton.
Payton likes size, and with Sutton and Vele, Denver’s size advantage doesn’t get better than that on the outside. Now, let’s discuss the Broncos’ rookie addition, Pat Bryant.
Bryant was a standout during the Broncos’ offseason program and projects to be the team’s best overall route runner at wide receiver. While the pecking order at the position is unclear right now for what a potential rotation would look like, Bryant could have an under-the-radar role as a possession guy or chain mover on third down, depending on how opposing defenses choose to cover Sutton, Mims, and Evan Engram.
Denver also added veteran Trent Sherfield, return Michael Bandy, A.T. Perry, while mixing in undrafted rookies Joaquin Davis, Courtney Jackson, Kyrese White, and Jerjuan Newton. That puts Denver at 12 total wide receivers going into camp.
Position battles to watch at wide receiver
Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims, Devaughn Vele, Troy Franklin, and Pat Bryant all appear to be roster locks at wide receiver going into the season. Where things get tricky revolves around who gets the most snaps, targets, etc.
Sutton projects to be targeted the most this upcoming season, but Broncos head coach Sean Payton said during the offseason program that guys at receiver weren’t necessarily competing for spots, but more so would be competing for touches.
Do the Broncos carry five receivers on the 53-man roster, or could they carry six?
Trent Sherfield projects to be a key special-teams player, which could lead to Denver keeping six receivers on the 53. Last year, Denver decided to keep three quarterbacks on the active roster, but that seems unlikely to happen, which means the Broncos could very well allocate an additional spot to the WR room or other skill player positions on offense or defense.
When Vele missed mandatory minicamp, Bryant saw more reps and looked impressive. I’d estimate Vele and Bryant compete for touches, while Mims and Franklin work in as gadget players and rotational pieces as the season progresses.
The only player whose status is unquestioned as the team’s WR1 is Sutton. What Nix needs from the receiver room this season is more consistency from the unit, which had far too many drops last season, and there needs to be a player at this position who establishes himself as the next solidified playmaker next to Sutton.
