3 Keys to Broncos Solving the Log Jam at WR
Denver, CO – The Sean Payton Era began last February when the Super Bowl XLIV champion was named as the 20th head coach in Denver Broncos history. The NFL draft, mandatory OTAs, and minicamps came and went with nary a peep as Payton’s strict media policy and ‘work in silence’ philosophy has left many of Broncos Country to wonder what’s going on behind the walls of Centura Health Training Center.
The initial answers come in approximately one week as the Broncos begin their 2023 training camp, with 12 free-ticketed practices open to the public beginning on July 28. With all eyes on Russell Wilson entering Year 2, fans can’t help but wonder how Payton will manage the abundance of talent and players at wide receiver.
You can bet your bottom dollar that Payton will have the highest level of expectation for Denver's veteran and younger receivers as they compete to make this football team. But the Broncos do have a bit of a log jam at wideout.
Here are three keys to solving that particular problem in Denver.
Keep the Phones Lines Open
It’s no secret that the Broncos fielded trade calls on Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy this offseason. ESPN senior writer Jeff Legwold revealed that Denver's asking price for Jeudy was a first-round pick before Payton emphatically stated that the team would not trade him, as his fifth-year option for 2024 was exercised.
As Broncos Country has witnessed, injuries occur every training camp across the NFL. This leaves teams without depth at that specific position vulnerable and, at times, desperate to acquire a player from another team before the start of the regular season. The concept of supply and demand in the NFL is as old as the hills, which is why deals get done every year between the months of July and August.
With the recent news that wideout DeAndre Hopkins is joining the Tennessee Titans, the remaining wideouts on the market leave something to be desired. Free agents still looking to compete in training camp this summer include Kenny Golladay, Julio Jones, Byron Pringle, Jarvis Landry, N’Keal Harry, and Sammy Watkins, among others.
If there’s one thing that both Payton and GM George Paton love, it's value, which means keeping an active dialogue with the other 31 NFL teams.
Cream Always Rises to the Top
One of my favorite sayings in the scouting community is, “If you have talent and work hard enough, they’ll find you.” The same can be said for evaluating players amid position and roster battles.
Yes, the NFL is a performance-based business with draft pedigree and contract demands factoring into the overall construction of the team. But it’s also true that “the cream rises to the top.”
Sometimes it’s blatantly easy to see guys produce consistently on a day-in and day-out basis. That’s one of the biggest lures for Broncos fans to training camp; the ability to watch practice firsthand. The fact of the matter is draft pedigree and contract dollars don’t count for diddly squat in one-on-one drills in the Mile High sun.
Availability will also come at a premium, specifically for fourth-year wideout KJ Hamler, who hasn’t scored a touchdown since 2020. The former Penn State second-rounder has been injured for the majority of his short career in Denver, recording three total scores.
No longer will Paton be able to operate freely on the hope that this will be the year for any of the receivers on this football team. Instead, Payton will task each man with a tall order of expectations, and whether or not they're met will dictate each receiver's future on the Broncos roster.
Develop a Proud Special Teams Culture
While I understand that it’s a new season and new era, and all of that jazz, it’s hard to ignore the decades-long decay of the Broncos' special teams unit. The only bright spot during these lean years was longtime kicker and Super Bowl 50 champion Brandon McManus, who was given his walking papers at the end of May, ending a fantastic chapter of franchise history.
Payton handpicked Ben Kotwica to serve as the special teams coordinator, who will work alongside assistant head coach Mike Westhoff and assistant third-phase coach Chris Banjo.
In a crowded room, the best thing any player can do, especially this lot of receivers, is demonstrate his versatility at other positions. This is not limited to punt and kick returner responsibilities, as players like Montrell Washington, Kendall Hinton, and rookie Marvin Mims Jr. will be fighting for.
Implementing a strong special teams culture takes buy-in from players who understand their position as a football player first — wide receiver second. Who’s willing to make a tackle as a gunner on the punt team?
Who’s willing to wedge block in training camp if asked to do so? These thankless jobs make the difference between a contagious culture of pride and attention to detail.
Here’s something to consider. Jeudy, Sutton, Hamler, and Tim Patrick are the veteran receivers in a stacked room, and none of them play special teams. I’m not suggesting we see Jeudy fielding punts, although Payton worked out All-Pro Patrick Surtain II as a returner during OTAs.
I’m simply saying that when you’re out at camp sweating on the berm at Centura Health Training Center, watch the special teams period closely. It’ll serve as the baseline for players' careers and future opportunities for employment.
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