The Denver Broncos have made it to the top of the AFC through 14 weeks of the 2025 NFL season, to the surprise of even some fans within Broncos Country. The team has managed to go 11-2 despite not having the most dangerous wide receiving corps in the league, or even anything close to that, really.
After the Broncos were taken out in the Wild Card round of last year's playoffs by the Buffalo Bills, one of the major takeaways from that game is that the team just needed more playmakers. This offseason, the team added Evan Engram and J.K. Dobbins in free agency. Both players have added something, but Engram has been inconsistent and Dobbins is now on injured reserve.
The Broncos have a stout defense and a team that is learning how to win close games, but some major weapons on offense should still be on the wish list.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report discussed how improving the receivers' room is the team's top offseason priority, noting the reported interest in trying to obtain Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins ahead of this year's trade deadline.
"The Denver Broncos share the best record in the AFC and have a true Super Bowl-caliber defense. However, an inconsistent offense has made it hard to view the Broncos as legitimate title contenders.
While Denver has gotten mostly good play from second-year quarterback Bo Nix, offensive consistency has been a major issue. The Broncos, it seems, looked to fix it by adding receiver help at the trade deadline.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Broncos reached out to the Miami Dolphins regarding the availability of Jaylen Waddle.
While the Broncos have some "good" pass-catchers, like Troy Franklin, Courtland Sutton, and Evan Engram, they lack a truly elite one. Expect Denver to try upgrading its receiving corps through the draft. Targeting a top prospect like Carnell Tate or Kenyon Sadiq would be advisable", wrote Knox.
It's hard to argue against any of that and the Broncos need to look for options in the offseason such as Tate and Sadiq in next spring's draft. Free agency will be a place to look as well.
Potential free-agent wide receiver targets for Broncos in 2026
George Pickens
Deebo Samuel
Jakobi Myers
Jauan Jennings
Christian Kirk
The free-agent market lacks superstars at the wide receiver position, but these are five names the team could consider. The Dallas Cowboys will almost certainly re-sign George Pickens, but if Jerry Jones makes the kind of head-scratching decision on that deal like some he has made in the past, the Broncos should look to go all in on a player like that.
The Broncos have a decent group of young wide receivers on the roster, but there is no one at the position who is going to strike fear into the opposition. Even Courtland Sutton, who does many things well, is not an elite wide receiver. That is the player the Broncos need to look for in 2026. Someone who can help Bo Nix become an even better player on the field.
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Right now, the team has been getting by with what it has, but the lack of offensive playmakers is why so many fans are laughing at the Broncos being a true Super Bowl contender this season. Can the Broncos really win it all with this group?
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