What would make the Jaylen Waddle trade successful for the Denver Broncos?

Does he need to lead the team in receptions and yards? Or is there an even bigger goal for the Broncos?

What will make the Jaylen Waddle trade successful for the Broncos?

One local writer deemed the Denver Broncos trade for Waddle will only be considered a success if the team wins a Super Bowl.

I don’t agree.

Of course, ultimately a team’s goal is to win a Super Bowl.

But to place the blame—or success of winning a Super Bowl—on a single wide receiver and his trade during the offseason is ridiculous.

This isn’t a quarterback the Broncos traded two first-round picks for. That would really be selling the future to win now.

Like what Denver did back in 2022 with Russell Wilson.

A receiver doesn’t have the ball in his hands on every play like a quarterback does. And unlike a running back on a rushing play, during a pass play a receiver only has at best a 50% chance of getting the ball, and sometimes it’s even as low as 20%.

Plus, a receiver can only be as good as his quarterback and play caller both are. Even when a receiver has the ball thrown his way, if it’s off-target, he’s not going to have a chance to catch the pigskin.

Waddle has a chance to revolutionize the Broncos offense.

He’s going to take the top off the defense and make opponents respect him deep. That will open up underneath routes and help Courtland Sutton get open, too. Waddle should be able to make some explosive plays as well, and even score explosive touchdowns at times.

But his play has no bearing on the defensive side of the ball. Nor does it affect special teams. They have to hold up their side of the bargain.

The Jaylen Waddle trade will be successful if Denver is consistently in the playoffs

The Broncos have been in the playoffs the last two straight years and they nearly made it in 2023, Sean Payton’s first with the club.

In 2024 and 2025, the Broncos were led by the defense first. Vance Joseph’s unit put up new franchise records in sacks in consecutive seasons, leading the NFL both years. They pressure opposing quarterbacks and the secondary is so good they can play a ton of man coverage and still shut down receivers.

In all likelihood, Denver will continue to be led by the defense in 2026.

But what the addition of Waddle does is hopefully improve the offense so it’s not being pulled along by the defense.

Payton and GM George Paton have to hope the 2026 Broncos are a more complimentary team; those are the groups that can truly compete for a Super Bowl.

Considering the lack of turnover—Denver re-signed a ton of their own free agents and only let John Franklin-Myers walk and cut Dre Greenlaw—this Broncos team should definitely be in the playoffs for a third straight year.

And if they’re able to re-sign Waddle, which will be a focus, and keep a bunch of their other core guys around, there’s no reason why this Broncos team can’t consistently keep making the playoffs for years to come.

At that point, we’ll look back at this trade as a huge success. Super Bowl win or not.