The Denver Broncos still have the entire 2025 NFL season ahead of them, but one of the positions where the team faces its biggest questions is at wide receiver.
The Broncos are young at wide receiver and with Courtland Sutton always connected to trade rumors, the Broncos could be looking for more at the position next year. Much of that will depend on how the season goes for Troy Franklin, Devaughn Vele and Pat Bryant this season.
The Broncos don’t often select a wide receiver in the first round — it’s only happened five times in team history. But Ryan McCrystal of Sharp Football Analysis sees them selecting one in 2026. McCrystal has the Broncos taking Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields with the No. 24 overall pick in the first round.
Fields will be playing his first season for the Fightin’ Irish after transferring from Virginia. He was a quarterback in high school but was recruited in college as a wide receiver, and he’s converted well to the position. His size (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) is what will attract the eyes of NFL scouts and general managers.
Broncos first-round wide receivers
| Player | Year | Overall Pick | School |
| Ricky Nattiel | 1987 | 27 | Florida |
| Marcus Nash | 1998 | 30 | Tennessee |
| Ashley Lelie | 2002 | 19 | Hawaii |
| Demaryius Thomas | 2010 | 22 | Georgia Tech |
| Jerry Jeudy | 2020 | 15 | Alabama |
One of the biggest questions facing the Broncos’ offense this season relates to whether or not the team has given Bo Nix enough to work with. Sean Payton plans to help the inexperienced wide receiver group with Evan Engram, a tight end who is built like a wide receiver, and multiple running backs who can catch the ball out of the backfield.
If the wide receiver position sees its struggles for the Broncos, selecting one in the first round of next year’s draft could be a possibility, making Fields a name to keep tabs on.
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