Finding Broncos: 5 Tier Two Wide Receivers

Finding Broncos scouts the NFL Draft by examining the second tier of the wide receiver class.

The Denver Broncos need to find a reliable speed threat to add to their offense, specifically at the receiver position. KJ Hamler has had injury concerns going back to the 2020 NFL Draft and hasn't been reliable enough with his hands. Luckily, this year's draft has a handful of players that fit the bill.

Jalin Hyatt | WR | Tennessee

© George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

Pros:

• He has electric speed and can take the ball to the house from anywhere.
• The first step burst is explosive and gets to top speed quickly.
• Flashes smooth and reliable hands outside of the framework.
• He can outrun anybody when he has a free release and against off coverage
• Gadget flexibility with dynamic ability after the catch in open space.
• Eliminates pursuit angles at top speed.
• Shows effort as a blocker on the outside.

Cons:

• Unrefined as a route runner.
• Saw a lot of free releases and schemed-up touches in Tennessee's passing attack.
• Slender build with a skinny lower half.
• Lacks physicality in contested catch situations.
• He can get shoved around and fall off balance throughout his route stem.
• The release package off of the line of scrimmage is raw and unrefined.

Fit with Broncos:

Should he fall that far, Jalin Hyatt could be a top option for the Broncos in the 3rd round. Once considered a top prospect at the position, Hyatt has fallen as he has been labeled a "one-trick pony." Hyatt would immediately upgrade the floor and ceiling of the room with his ability to threaten defenses vertically. His playmaking ability has also made defense show smaller boxes, as they must respect his long speed. 

Tyler Scott | WR | Cincinnati

© Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Pros:

• An explosive downfield runner with track speed.
• First-step explosiveness for top acceleration is a big-time plus.
• An incredible vertical threat in the passing game.
• Interesting run after catch ability with the ball in his hands.
• Gadget versatility as a jet sweep runner and in the screen game.
• He tracks the ball well and keeps his speed up when he does so.
• He locates the ball and alters his body to track it down with relative ease.
• He plays above his weight class at times.

Cons:

• Smaller frame with a slender build.
• Limited route tree with little speed variation to help create separation.
• Inconsistent physicality as a blocker.
• Saw a lot of free releases from the slot.
• Needs better route-running skills.
• A little bit tight in the lower half, making cuts appear rounded.
• He can get knocked off balance in contested catch scenarios.
• Physical cornerbacks give him problems.

Fit with Broncos:

Tyler Scott is an interesting fit for the Broncos because of his ability to win with explosive speed. Scott has 10 career touchdowns over 30-plus yards, with a couple coming from close to the line of scrimmage when he got the ball. There is a small probability that Scott will be available for the Broncos, but Scott will likely be selected in the second round.

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Josh Downs | WR | North Carolina

© Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Pros:

• Super consistent on a game-to-game basis.
• Nice usage of speed variation as a route runner helps him create a lot of separation.
• Consistent and reliable hands, with only a 3.1% drop rate.
• Fluid hips with good change of direction ability.
• Stop-and-start athleticism is above average.
• He can win as a vertical threat with long speed.
• Surprisingly physical for a smaller player.
• Won 72% of his contested catch situations.
• Has punt return versatility.

Cons:

• He is very small for the position.
• Route running nuance is lacking.
• Can get overpowered by press coverage.
• Not a great run blocker.
• He does have some focus drops, but they are due to him trying to turn and run before securing the catch.
• His catch radius is limited due to a lack of size and length.
• Was schemed open a lot at North Carolina and got a lot of free releases from the slot.

Fit with Broncos:

Josh Downs would be a great fit for the Broncos, especially if he offered more size to his profile. However, Downs is viewed as one of the top prospects at the position and a possible first-round selection. Downs has obvious size concerns, so being physical against him through the route stem is vital to nullifying his success at the next level.

Rashee Rice | WR | SMU

© Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Pros:

• Physicality at the catch point is a plus.
• Plays bigger than his frame.
• He has a nice route tree and can win at all levels of the field.
• Reliable hands that pluck the ball out of the air.
• Ball skills for days.
• Decent body control both as a route runner and at the catch point.
• His run blocking stands out with good technique and a will to win.
• He plays well in the vertical game, tracking the ball and altering his route to get there.

Cons:

• Inconsistency issues all over his tape.
• He needs to be more willing to use his physicality more consistently.
• Doesn't box out in jump ball situations.
• Initial explosiveness is lacking.
• Lacks a top gear to separate going over the middle of the field.
• His route running can be sloppy and inconsistent.

Fit with Broncos:

Rashee Rice isn't a great fit for the Broncos, given the state of the room. Rice isn't consistent enough and lacks the high-end explosiveness and top speed the Broncos lack at the position. While Rice can sometimes show flashes of dominance, he has too many questions about his consistency in almost every facet of playing the position. 

Xavier Hutchinson | WR | Iowa State

© Bryon Houlgrave/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK

Pros:

• Good size and length for the position.
• He was a high-target volume receiver with a lot of catch-and-run scenarios.
• Had 107 catches in 2022.
• Speed variation through the route is a plus.
• Good footwork in his release package.
• He is an above-average route runner and shows good hip flexibility to snap off clean routes.
• Physical and determined as a blocker.
• Inside and outside versatility and can separate against press coverage.
• He has above-average body control and makes difficult catches look easy.

Cons:

• Lacks true burner speed and relies on nuance to win.
• He can't separate with athleticism.
• Rarely put the ball into the endzone
• He needs to play to his size more in contested catch situations.
• Need to do a better job leveraging angles in his route stem to help create space.

Fit with Broncos:

Xavier Hutchinson is not a good fit for the Broncos. They already have a pair of receivers in this archetype in Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick. Hutchinson would make sense for the Broncos if they were to trade one of those two during the draft as a replacement, but not as a piece to add to the room as is. 

The 2023 wide receiver class leaves much to be desired compared to the last handful of classes we've seen. There are a lot of more petite guys with a lot of speed, but not many players with a desirable blend of height, weight, and speed. However, where Denver has their first selection, a few quality options bring the explosiveness they desire.

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