The Denver Broncos have one of the more inexperienced wide receiver groups in the NFL and the team only marginally addressed that this offseason.
Trent Sherfield, a player used almost exclusively on special teams, was signed in free agency. The Broncos then used their third-round pick to select Pat Bryant out of Illinois, a selection many immediately referred to as a “reach”. The selection of Bryant was criticized, but Sean Payton didn’t shy away from defending it.
“There were so many parts of his game that reminded me of Michael Thomas”
Sean Payton on WR Pat Bryant pic.twitter.com/rMwbnUaPid
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) April 26, 2025
Still, the Broncos lack experience behind Courtland Sutton and with an up-and-coming quarterback entering his second year in the league, it could be a good idea to add more.
Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports seems to be surprised that the team hasn’t already made that move, but as Keenan Allen and Amari Cooper, two of the better wide receivers of the last decade, remain unsigned, he decided to take a look at the best spots for them. The Broncos are one of the five teams on his list, but they are the first team Benjamin mentions.
“If we’re being honest, we’re kind of surprised the Broncos haven’t already claimed one of these veteran wideouts. They’ve got a hot young signal-caller in Bo Nix, who might be among the game’s most underrated up-and-comers, but they could still use more of a proven weapon on the outside. Tight end Evan Engram may well become Nix’s new safety valve, and coach Sean Payton may lean on the ground game and defense anyway. But why not explore a potential No. 2 upgrade behind Courtland Sutton? Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi previously served the same role for the Chargers , overseeing two of Allen’s seasons in L.A.”, wrote Benjamin.
Cooper’s name has come up on and off this offseason in connection with the Broncos, but Allen might make even more sense. Though his best days are definitely behind him, a crafty veteran receiver with excellent hands could be the perfect player to help Nix’s growth in year two.
The Broncos will want to see what they have first with their young core of wide receivers, starting with Marvin Mims Jr., Devaughn Vele and Troy Franklin, before determining how much to put on Bryant’s plate during his rookie season. But if the Broncos feel they just need a little more veteran leadership and experience in the group, they could get Cooper or Allen and feel good about it.
Both players are almost certainly just waiting for the right team to come calling. The “right team” is usually a contender that can offer a solid one-year contract and promise a decent number of snaps to that player for that season. The Broncos can do that for either of these players.
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