Carlos Henderson/Isaiah McKenzie
Only two wide receivers were drafted under John Elway before Carlos Henderson and Isaiah McKenzie were taken in last years draft. Henderson and McKenzie have all the potential in the world, but neither showed much in their rookie years. Henderson missed all last season with an injury and McKenzie coughed up the football six times in eleven games.
Going into the 2018 draft, not many expected Denver to take a wide receiver early. Elway and company pounced on SMU wide out Cortland Sutton when he fell to them in the second round. They doubled up with polished receiver DaeSean Hamilton out of Penn State in the fourth round.
Thomas and Sanders are aging and carry large cap hits, but heading into 2018, they are firmly entrenched as the number one and two receivers. Very rarely are early draft picks released before their rookie season even begins. That accounts for four wide receivers guaranteed spots.
There are seven wide receivers fighting for the remaining two roster spots. This includes McKenzie, Henderson, and Jordan Taylor.