The Denver Broncos upgraded the wide receiver position earlier this off-season with their blockbuster trade for Jaylen Waddle. Once a relative area of concern, the Broncos’ wide receiver corps boasts a lot of potential for the 2026 season. The team’s top five are set in stone, but if the team opts to keep six, there are a handful of viable options for them to consider.
One under the radar player Broncos Country should pay attention to this summer is Dane Key. He is an undrafted rookie free agent from
Nebraska. Key is also the younger brother of current Broncos’ special teams ace and safety Devon Key.
Key’s collegiate career began back in 2022 with the Kentucky Wildcats. As a freshman, he made an impact as a 12-game starter with 37 receptions for 519 yards and 6 touchdowns. The following year, he had 42 receptions for 636 yards and 6 touchdowns. In his junior campaign and final season with the Wildcats, he posted 47 receptions for 715 yards and 2 touchdowns.
For his senior year, Key transferred to Nebraska and experienced his collegiate productivity with just 39 catches for 452 yards and 5 touchdowns. However, there were a multitude of issues with the Huskers’ program this past season, so his lack of performance shouldn’t entirely be held against him. Let’s do a deeper dive into Key, his strengths and weaknesses, and shots of him making the Broncos’ roster this season.
Player Profile
Age: 22 | Experience: Rookie | College: Nebraska (via Kentucky) | Height: 6’3” | Weight: 210 pounds
Arm Length: 32-1/8” | Hand Size: 9-5/8” | Vertical: 34-1/2”
40-Yard Dash: 4.62 seconds | 3-Cone: 7.01 Seconds | Shuttle: 4.66 Seconds | Broad Jump: 10’-2”
Dane Key’s 2026 outlook with the Broncos
Key’s size, length, and toughness all line up with Head Coach Sean Payton’s archetype at the position. He is an experienced player who uses those traits to his advantage and is fantastic at contested catches. During his collegiate career, he lined up primarily on the outside, but also saw a hefty dose (35-percent of career snaps) from the slot position. That outside-inside flexibility is something Payton has stated is valued at the position—similar to what we have seen from recent draft picks like Pat Bryant and Devaughn Vele.
Another positive—Key is a sure-handed target. With 259 targets between both programs, he registered just nine drops in college: three this past season and six during his sophomore year at Kentucky. His attention to detail and route running are advanced for his age. His physicality and willingness as a run blocker stands out. Moreover, he displays tremendous ability to come down with chain-moving grabs over the middle of the field.
However, his speed and agility testing are well below ideal standard NFL thresholds. He isn’t going to be a deep threat at the pro level despite being a good down field target in his collegiate days. The aforementioned limitations will make it tough to routinely win one-on-one versus press coverage. Overall, his potential may be quite limited to a depth contributor only.
Final Thoughts
With Denver already five deep at wide receiver and several other veteran receivers vying for a spot on the Broncos’ 53-man roster, Key faces a tough battle to make the squad. The talent is there, but the numbers game makes it difficult to see a viable path for him to make that happen as an undrafted rookie. Nevertheless, he certainly merit consideration as a developmental wide receiver on their 53-man practice squad.
