Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has found his quarterback in Bo Nix. Now, he must give him more weapons.
At the annual league meeting on Monday, Payton said, “I appreciate not being in the quarterback market [this offseason].” The coach then explained the Broncos must address a key area of their passing game to help Nix.
“We’ve talked about it for two years now, the interior triangle of your passing game [is] the tight end, running back and the third receiver,” Payton said in Palm Beach, Florida. “When you’re seeing those shell coverage looks, those positions have to thrive.”
The Broncos possibly found their TE, signing Evan Engram to a two-year, $23M deal in free agency. In three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Engram had 234 receptions for 2,094 yards and nine touchdown catches, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2023.
Denver lists Devaughn Vele as its third wide receiver. He showed promise as a rookie, catching 41 passes for 475 yards and three touchdown catches in 13 regular-season games.
Denver still has a hole at running back. In free agency, they let RB Javonte Williams — who led the team in rushing yards in 2024 (513 in 17 games) — sign a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys.
Denver could probably find an upgrade in the 2025 NFL Draft, which looks deep at RB. In his Monday news conference, Broncos general manager George Paton said, “You can get a good back from the second round all the way to the sixth round.”
Denver has pick No. 20 in the first round of the draft, where it could take North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton (6-foot, 221 pounds), who scored 17 touchdowns (15 rushing and two receiving) in 12 games in 2024.
The Broncos could also take Texas RB Jaydon Blue (6-foot, 200 pounds) on Day 2 of the draft. He scored 14 TDs (eight rushing and six receiving) in 15 games in 2024.
If Denver finds an RB, that would complete Payton’s triangle, possibly elevating Nix’s game after a solid rookie season. In 17 starts in 2024, he tossed the NFL’s sixth-most TD passes (29).
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