Mile High Report
The Denver Broncos have a lot of talented players at the wide receiver position. The growth and development of the group will be one of the best storylines to watch this season.
The Denver Broncos have a lot of youth and potential at the wide receiver.
It’s one of the position groups on the roster that could really help take the Broncos to the next level if several of the players improve and begin to hit their stride. Longtime veteran Courtland Sutton, entering his eighth year, is the leader of the group. Outside of him, most players battling for a position have less than three years of experience in the National Football League.
Over the past three drafts, the Broncos have added Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, Devaughn Vele, and Pat Bryant. In addition to Sutton, those five make up one of the most talented receiving corps the franchise has fielded in recent memory. How Head Coach Sean Payton will choose to utilize and divvy up the target share amongst the group will be one of the more interesting developments and storylines to follow this season.
With training camp just a few weeks away, let’s dive into the Broncos’ receiving corps for the 2025 season.
Courtland Sutton — Starter — Top Target Share
Entering the final year of his contract, Sutton is the elder statesmen of the Broncos’ receiving corps and likely top target for quarterback Bo Nix for the 2025 season. Though his future in the Mile High City is uncertain.
Throughout his career, Sutton has consistently wowed with his acrobatic highlight reel catches. Alas, issues with drops and average catch-rates on an annual basis have hindered his production. Though in his defense, he has had to work with a lot of different quarterbacks—several of which who struggle with accuracy. But with Nix at the helm, there should be a lot more consistency and chemistry between the two in ‘25.
In just two years in Payton’s offense, Sutton has racked up 18 touchdowns—which is more than what he had in his first five seasons combined. His 140 receptions and 1,853 yards in that timeframe are also the most for the franchise. I would expect Sutton to receive the most looks in the passing game this season. Last year, he had a career high 135 targets—though I could envision a slight decrease in that for a variety of factors.
His 60-percent catch percentage in 2024 was average, but 57 of his 81 receptions moved the chains or resulted in a touchdown. With a modest rise of efficiency to catch percentage, it’s quite possible Sutton could have the best year of his career to date—but whether or not it is his last with the franchise is also something to keep note of.
DeVaughn Vele — Starter — Projected #2 WR in Target Share
The 26-year-old rookie from Utah surprised last offseason with an impressive training camp and preseason that earned him a spot on...
