Finding Broncos: 3 WRs to Add a True No. 1 Option

The Broncos are working on rebuilding their receiver room, and while unlikely they land one, one of these two top receivers would be a massive boost.

Nov 18, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) / Clare Grant/The Columbus Dispatc / USA

The Denver Broncos have done some work to improve their receiver room. However, they still can use more work to help out the future outlook at the position. It is unlikely they’ll be able to land one of the top three receivers, but maybe one will fall. If that is the case, it is still worth doing due diligence. So, let’s look at three of the top receivers in the draft. 

Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. makes a catch against Michigan defensive backs Quinten / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Marvin Harrison Jr | Ohio State

• Height: 6-foot-3
• Weight: 209 pounds
• Arm Length: 31-7/8 inches
• Hands: 9-1/2 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: N/A

Pros

A legacy prospect with elite and consistent production throughout. He has reliable hands and can be trusted to make the catch when needed. Harrison knows how to get open when the play starts to break down and keep himself a target for the quarterback. 

His route running has good nuance, with varied speeds throughout his routes to get and sustain separation. There is good suddenness out of his breaks to get instant separation. He knows how to snap his routes and will work back to the ball on comeback routes. 

There is an elite catch radius with Harrison, and he showcases excellent body control to adjust to the ball in the air. He is a natural toe-tapper on the boundary when getting both feet down, and he doesn’t have to make that extra effort. Contested catches are also not a concern with him. 

Everything is natural and easy for Harrison. He checks all of the boxes on and off the field. There isn’t much development needed, and Harrison can make a significant impact right away. 

Cons

Harrison doesn’t have elite speed, and faster and quicker corners can catch up with him. He isn’t overly physical, and more physical corners were able to disrupt his routes with good consistency. 

There are a lot of false steps and stutter-stepping throughout his routes. The wasted movements can slow him down and create openings for defensive backs. Getting that coached out of him is the biggest point of development he needs. 

Most concerns about Harrison are nitpicking the tape or consistency issues. While he has reliable hands, he saw an increase in drops in 2023 with six, compared to four drops in the previous seasons. 

Fit With Broncos

There is no concern about the fit here with Harrison. If the Broncos somehow managed to land him, they would land a great scheme fit that gives them a legit #1 option who can be moved around to attack the defense. 

Big Board Position: No. 1 overall.

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Nov 18, 2023; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver Rome Odunze (1) makes a / Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Rome Odunze | Washington

• Height: 6-foot-3
• Weight: 212 pounds
• Arm Length: 32-1/4 inches
• Hands: 9-1/4 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: 9.92

Pros

There is no doubt about his leadership, aggression on the field, and physicality. His size, build, and strength are NFL-made. There is enough speed to be a threat, but his ability to make plays is there even without elite speed. 

Odunze has good nuance with his routes and can create separation in an instant with some good burst. He has good eyes for the coverage and knows how to make himself an early target for his quarterback. His body control and catch radius are elite, and he can easily bail out his quarterback. 

With his size and physicality, it is easy for Odunze to box out defenders from the catch point, making it hard for defenders to break up passes. When asked to block, those traits show, which is no issue for Odunze. He enjoys blocking and getting his hands on defenders in the run game with clean technique. The hands are consistent and reliable. 

Cons

His route running could use more development. He can round out his routes, so consistently adding sharpness to his breaks will help with separation. There is also an issue with him running his routes without bend, and he doesn’t always sink his hips into his breaks. Odunze is a great contested catch receiver, but he makes contested catch situations when he doesn’t need to. 

Fit With Broncos

Odunze, like Harrison, can fit in any scheme and would be an immediate #1 option on almost any team. He would be a massive boost to the Broncos' receiving room and make them one of the better receiver rooms. 

Big Board Position: No. 6 overall.

Dec 30, 2023; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Ladd McConkey (84) makes a / Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Ladd McConkey | Georgia

• Height: 6-foot
• Weight: 186 pounds
• Arm Length: 30-1/4 inches
• Hands: 8-5/8 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: 9.34

Pros

McConkey's high football IQ, excellent route-running skills, and nuance make him a formidable player. His ability to find openings and create separation, coupled with his excellent footwork and balance, instills confidence in his performance. 

He knows how to get and sustain proper coverage leverage against corners through his routes or get corners to break their leverage with his route running. There is good athleticism, and he has good enough long speed to be viewed as a vertical threat. 

You don’t have to worry about his run blocking or physicality, as he doesn’t back down to corners. He has good hands and looks to pluck the ball out of the air and secure it before working to make plays after the catch. There is also a special team's value as a punt returner. 

Cons

While he will bring it as a blocker and against physical corners, he isn’t the strongest of receivers, which can create issues with his effectiveness. Multiple injuries in 2023 kept him off the field, and his production was modest. His career high in receiving yards was 762 in the 2022 season. 

The hands are fine, and he looks to pluck the ball out of the air, but he isn’t immune to drops. When working out of his breaks, there could be more instant acceleration to get earlier separation and lessen the work from McConkey. 

Fit With Broncos

While McConkey is best suited working out of the slot, he can work on the boundary in a suitable scheme. What Sean Payton does with his passing concepts could see McConkey work outside. His route-running ability would be a great compliment to what the Broncos have already. 

Big Board Position: No. 28 overall.

Better Fit for Broncos

Any of these three receivers would be an excellent fit for the Broncos. The issue is two of them are expected to go in the top 10, and are likely out of reach for the Broncos. McConkey is a good fit and is not expected to go in the top 10. He could be an option with a trade-down or even a trade-up, but he will likely be gone before the Bronco's third-round pick.

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