With the NFL trade deadline less than a week away, we have more rumors connecting the Denver Broncos to wide receivers.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler says that the Broncos have his attention and that they have evaluated
multiple spots, including left guard, tight end, and wide receiver. He goes on to say that while he is not convinced the Broncos will make a bold move, he believes that ideally, they would like more of a classic, field-stretching receiving option to offset the skill sets already in place on the roster while also adding some veteran experience.
Denver being in the market for a classic field stretcher would be interesting. They do have Marvin Mims and Troy Franklin, who can do just that, but both have been hit or miss on their deep shot attempts this season. Payton may be looking for a more reliable veteran who can stretch the field for quarterback Bo Nix and come down with the deep ball. If that is the case, then Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed seems like a logical fit.
I mentioned before that he has coaching ties to Denver. While he did not play for Sean Payton, he has played for a number of the offensive coaches on his staff. Also, he fits what the Broncos want perfectly. He is a classic speedy field stretcher who is a veteran in the league. He is very explosive, probably would be the Broncos’ fastest player on the team, and already has an 87-yard touchdown this season for the Saints.
Shaheed is a free agent at the end of the year and likely would not cost the Broncos all that much if they decided to go in that direction. This is all speculation on my part, but based on who is expected to be available, the skill set, and coaching connections, he seems like the most logical candidate for the Broncos.
Fowler also mentions left guard and tight end as options for the Broncos, but both seem less likely now. Alex Palczewski has filled in well for Ben Powers, and outside of depth, that area of concern seems filled for now. As for tight end, they recently signed 41-year-old blocking specialist Marcedes Lewis to their practice squad. It remains to be seen if that takes them out of the market for a tight end, but for now, we can assume they aren’t big fish hunting there.
Despite Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims having a couple of standout games this season, the Broncos continue to be mentioned as teams in the market for a wide receiver. We shall see if they make a move before the 2 p.m. MT trade deadline on November 4th, but it certainly does sound like they are making calls about wide receivers.
