The NFL trade deadline is less than two weeks away, and we are starting to hear some rumors surrounding what the Denver Broncos may do ahead of the deadline. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports is hearing that the Denver Broncos, not the Pittsburgh Steelers, could be the biggest contender to trade for a wide receiver.
I put together some trade intel Monday
, but I want to add a few things to it I’ve learned in the days since.Perhaps the biggest contender for a receiver is not the Steelers but instead the Broncos.
Courtland Sutton is 30-years-old and just signed a four-year extension with an out after next season. Denver has all of its picks through the fifth round and added a fourth from the Saints in the preseason.
The Broncos are 5-2 with a top-ranked defense and a quarterback on his rookie deal for at least another season. Folks around the league are watching the Broncos to see how aggressive they may be.
With the Broncos currently sitting at 5-2, first place in the AFC West, having a top-ranked defense, and quarterback Bo Nix on a rookie contract, they’re in a window to go all-in for a postseason and Super Bowl push. One area they could address is the wide receiver position.
Veteran wide receiver Courtland Sutton is having a really good year and continues to be Nix’s top and most trusted target. However, after Sutton, things get a bit more murky. Both Marvin Mims Jr. and Troy Franklin have flashed potential this season, but neither has really stepped up as a trusted number two target behind Sutton. So, adding an established veteran who can step in and be that trusted number two option would be ideal.
The Broncos also have some draft capital to play with. They added a 4th round selection when they traded Devaughn Vele and could get more if Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph gets a head coaching job this offseason. So, if they really wanted a certain player, they have the draft picks to make it work.
With all that said, who could be available for the Broncos? Earlier today, there was a report that teams are calling the Saints about the availability of wide receivers Chris Olave and speedster Rashid Shaheed. While neither player played for Sean Payton with the Saints, a number of his offensive coaches spent time with both receivers over the past few seasons. So, there is a coaching connection there that could come into play.
The biggest name who might be available is Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. It seems unlikely that he will be moved, but with the way things are trending in Miami, you never know. Raiders veteran wide receiver Jakobi Myers has requested a trade, but a trade within the division seems unlikely. After that, you have names like Calvin Ridley, Christian Kirk, and Rashod Bateman who are being mentioned as players who could be traded, but neither of them really moves the needle for me.
Of the players mentioned, Chris Olave would be my top target. He’s just 25 years old, he has another year left on his contract, and he is a very productive wide receiver. Sure, he does have concussion concerns, but the talent is hard to deny. On the year, Olave has 44 receptions for 440 yards and 3 touchdowns. I think he would be a perfect number two behind Sutton and would instantly improve the Broncos’ offense.
If the Broncos want to contend in the AFC, and very likely with the Chiefs, they need some more firepower to work with. This report indicates that they know that and will be looking to add prior to the trade deadline. Of the names mentioned, I think Olave could be the most realistic addition, but we’ll see. Waddle would be great, Shaheed has real speed, Myers is a solid veteran, and there could be someone out there that we are overlooking.
The NFL Trade Deadline is November 4th at 2 p.m. MT, so we still have time to see if the Broncos will make a deal for a wide receiver or not. We will likely get more news and rumors in the coming days so stay tuned to Mile High Report for any and all trade deadline updates.
