It's that time of year.
Broncos Training Camp powered by Ford is just a few days away, and DenverBroncos.com is continuing its annual look at the roster before the final lead-up to the regular season begins.
We're focusing on each area of Denver's roster to get fans set for a pivotal training camp that will feature plenty of competition, and we continue with the Broncos' wide receiving corps.
SETTING THE STAGE
The Broncos' wide receiver room should receive an influx of talent for the 2024 season, as Denver added players through both free agency and the draft and will regain a key player from injury.
Courtland Sutton returns as the team's most proven receiver — having caught a career-high 10 touchdowns in 2023 — but he should have plenty of help.
Denver signed Josh Reynolds in free agency before drafting Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin and Utah wideout Devaughn Vele in the fourth and seventh rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft, respectively.
The Broncos' receiving corps will also feature Tim Patrick, who led the Broncos in receiving touchdowns in both 2020 and 2021 before missing the last two seasons due to injury.
Second-year player Marvin Mims Jr. also figures to play a key role, as Head Coach Sean Payton has noted that he believes Mims will take a step forward after recording 22 receptions for 377 yards in 2023.
"I think we'll see a lot of growth from Year 1 to Year 2," Payton said on May 30.
With a number of new faces, though, training camp will be crucial for the group.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
How does the wide receiver room shape up?
The Broncos' wide receiver room features a strong mix of experience, and it doesn't appear it will be easy to earn a roster spot. Denver has both proven veterans like Sutton, Reynolds and Patrick and intriguing younger options that include Mims, Franklin and Vele. Brandon Johnson, Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Jalen Virgil have all made contributions for the Broncos and bring varied skill sets, and Phillip Dorsett brings first-round pedigree to the roster. Michael Bandy and David Sills have limited game experience but will also try to push for expanded roles.
"There's that old saying, 'Iron sharpens iron,'" Payton said on May 23, "and I feel like that's going to happen."
A year ago, the Broncos only kept four wide receivers on their initial 53-man roster, though teams often keep five or six players at the position on the roster. Denver also utilized its practice squad elevations to its advantage, as the team elevated receivers — Humphrey among them — at different times during the 2023 season.
Through highlight plays and consistent play in training camp and the preseason, each player will seek to make his case for either his roster spot or his role in the offense. And as roster cutdowns approach, the Broncos will have to determine the best group to keep on both its 53-man active roster and practice squad.
PLAYER TO KNOW
WR Josh Reynolds
While the Broncos added a pair of receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft, it may be more likely that their veteran addition makes an immediate impact. Reynolds joins the Broncos after three years in Detroit, and he recorded 40 receptions for 608 yards and five touchdowns in his final season with the Lions.
"He's long," Payton said of Reynolds on May 23. "He has strong hands. Another veteran receiver. I like that group, and if you study it closely, it's big across the board, and it has speed."
Entering his eighth NFL season, Reynolds should bolster the Broncos' receiving corps and provide another experienced option for Payton's offense.
"I've always admired Coach Payton from afar and was excited to see what that offense looked like," Reynolds said in May.
In a group that should feature heavy competition, training camp should offer the first signs of what role Reynolds will play for Denver's offense.
