5 wide receivers the Denver Broncos can replace KJ Hamler with

To say the first four years KJ Hamler has been in the NFL with the Denver Broncos have been brutal would be an understatement. Hamler entered the league in 2020 out of Penn State already bringing some injury concerns with him, having struggled in the 2019 season and 2020 offseason with hamstring issues.

Since he got to the Denver Broncos, it's -- very unfortunately -- been more of the same. Hamler has been impressive and explosive when on the field, but unfortunately, we've only seen him on the field for 23 games in three seasons, and now, there are even more injury concerns to consider. Hamler recently suffered a partially torn pectoral according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

The recovery timeline for a torn pectoral injury is "4-6 months" according to Pelissero, but anything short of a full 6-month recovery plan would be optimistic bordering on delusional. That means that as of the time of this writing, Hamler's full six-month recovery timeline would put him available on September 23rd, which would have him missing the first couple of weeks of the 2023 NFL season.

Brutal. It's just so brutal for Hamler, who has been consistently dealing with hamstring injuries, a concussion in 2020, a torn ACL in 2021, multiple major procedures following the ACL tear including surgery on his hip, a hamstring strain, and now a partially torn pectoral. Everyone hopes for the best for Hamler, but the brutal reality as far as football is concerned is that the Denver Broncos need to add at the receiver position.

There have been so many trade discussions involving players on the roster like Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy, and while the Broncos obviously seem to be holding firm at a high asking price for both players, there are question marks with all of the top four guys at this position group.

Courtland Sutton: Trade rumors
Jerry Jeudy: Trade rumors
Tim Patrick: Coming off of a torn ACL in 2022 training camp
KJ Hamler: Injury history already, plus new pectoral injury

The Broncos will almost undoubtedly look to the 2023 NFL Draft to supplement the wide receiver position, but they need to add players before that in NFL free agency. They have passed on the trade market so far, which is fine, but there have been receivers available for reasonable prices that the Broncos are also missing out on.

They have already taken "Ls" on players like Adam Thielen and Allen Lazard. Where could the Broncos pivot now given this news about KJ Hamler? Let's look at five remaining options.

Denver Broncos WR targets after KJ Hamler injury news

1. DJ Chark

I have suggested the Denver Broncos look into signing a player like DJ Chark for the longest time. I was a fan of it last offseason when Chark was a free agent and signed with the Detroit Lions. I was a fan of the idea of trading for him when the Jaguars were seemingly just dumping players under Urban Meyer. I am once again a fan of adding Chark.

Why?

Chark has a rare combination of size (6-foot-4) and speed (sub-4.4 40-yard dash) at the position, and he uses it well. He made the Pro Bowl in the 2019 season and although injuries and inconsistent QB play have derailed his ability to consistently be a top threat in recent years, but Chark showed that his big-play abilities are still there when he was with Detroit last season. It just so happens that Broncos pass game coordinator John Morton was in Detroit last year as well...

It doesn't make any sense, especially given the recent news regarding KJ Hamler, that the Broncos would let a player like this -- who is still just 26 -- sit there in free agency and let some other team sign him when he could help them win games, and when he so perfectly fits the strengths of Russell Wilson.

2. DeAndre Carter

I'm sure Denver Broncos fans have a different "DeAndre" on their minds right now, and that's understandable. It would be cool to see DeAndre Hopkins in Denver, but given the cost to acquire him, it's probably more likely we see DeAndre Carter in orange and blue next season.

Carter played last season with the Los Angeles Chargers where new Denver Broncos OC Joe Lombardi was his offensive coordinator. He played the most extensively on offense that he ever has under Lombardi last season and wound up catching a career-high 46 passes with three touchdowns. Over the last two seasons, Carter has six receiving touchdowns and a kickoff return touchdown.

He also averaged 11.7 yards per return as a punt returner. Needless to say, Carter -- even heading into his age-30 season -- could provide some value to the Denver Broncos more than just offensively.

3. N'Keal Harry

Obviously N'Keal Harry would not be a one-for-one replacement for KJ Hamler, and that's really not what I'm trying to say with anyone on this list at all. Although some guys might offer more of a speed threat at the position, the Broncos simply need to add at receiver in the worst possible way.

A player like N'Keal Harry could be an interesting one-year flyer type of option. The former first-round pick out of Arizona State (Patriots) played seven games for the Chicago Bears last season and caught just seven passes. He's only 25 years old and although this wouldn't be a groundbreaking addition to the room, I think a young player like Harry could have some interesting upside in Sean Payton's offense, at the very least.

4. Odell Beckham Jr. or Jarvis Landry

At this point in time, it feels like Odell Beckham Jr. is going to be signing with the New York Jets, so what about his former LSU and Browns teammate Jarvis Landry? Landry played for the Saints last season and while Sean Payton was not there, there are still some direct ties to this Denver Broncos coaching staff, for sure.

It's so fascinating that the Broncos have not been bigger players on Odell Beckham Jr., at least as far as we know. He would check so many boxes for them regardless of his injury history, but that ship may have sailed. At any rate, bringing in someone like Beckham or his former teammate Landry would at least be something to get a little excited about being that these two guys are big-name players who could contribute immediately.

5. Olamide Zaccheaus

Over the last couple of years, I think Olamide Zaccheaus has proven that he can be a pretty reliable deep threat in the league (averages over 13 yards per reception) and give you a nice secondary target in the passing game to turn to a couple of times every week.

He's coming off of a season in which he caught a career-best 40 passes for 533 yards and three touchdowns, and his YAC per reception (4.7) was the highest it's been in his pro career. Over four NFL seasons, he's also only got three career drops. He could be an interesting player to add into the mix with a combination of speed, quickness, good hands, and perhaps just more than meets the eye with his all-around game.