The Denver Broncos clearly need to fix their wide receiver room, so let's cover how they should do that in 2025 here. Wide receiver may end up being the team's biggest need when the next offseason rolls around, and at this rate, it may be a surprise to see George Paton still with the team. Many of his decisions during his tenure with the Denver Broncos have really hurt the team.
There really isn't anything that Paton can latch onto at this point to argue for his job in my opinion. Sean Payton should seek to bring one of his own guys in to try and fix this roster. The WR position should get a lot of attention in 2025, and I've outlined a few steps the team can take to fix the room.
Here's how to fix the Denver Broncos WR room in the 2025 offseason
Step 1: Trade Courtland Sutton for whatever you can get
At this point, the Denver Broncos simply need to move on from Courtland Sutton. He broke out all the way back in 2019, but tore his ACL in 2020 and has just not been able to regain the 2019 form since. He's slowly aging and is not someone the Broncos should look to keep around. They should take the same approach they did with Jerry Jeudy and just get what they can for him.
Sutton definitely has had his moments in Denver, and his 2023 season was perhaps the best of his career. However, Denver needs to continue the youth movement and turn the page. Courtland Sutton largely played well for the Broncos since being drafted back in 2018, but when the team gets to the end of the season, it'll be time for the WR to go.
Getting a late-round pick is probably all Denver will be able to get.
Step 2: Sign Tee Higgins in free agency
The next step here is to sign WR Tee Higgins in free agency. Higgins signed the franchise tag this offseason and is making just under $22 million. The Cincinnati Bengals are notorious for not paying their players, but did make a huge exception for Joe Burrow. They were not able to get a deal done with stud WR Ja'Marr Chase, so to me, the writing is on the wall for Higgins to depart in 2025.
He'd be just 26 years old next offseason and, across his career thus far, has averaged 75 receptions, 1,080 yards, and seven touchdowns per 17-game season. He's got two 1,000-yard seasons to his credit and averages 4.4 receptions per game and 63.5 yards per game. Higgins is very good and has been playing in the shadow of Ja'Marr Chase for multiple years now, so he's likely waiting for a chance to be a true WR1 on a new team.
That new team should be the Denver Broncos. Higgins is 6'4" but has no issue separating, so just because he's a larger target does not mean he can't separate. The Broncos would effectively replace Sutton with Higgins which is most definitely a winning formula.
Step 3: Draft Oregon WR Tez Johnson
Tez Johnson and Bo Nix are extremely close:
"When Johnson came to Pinson Valley High School, he was a sub-150-pound kid who would sometimes get into trouble. But on the football field, his teammate Bo Nix saw potential, and he relayed that potential to his coach and father, Patrick Nix.Ian Cummings
Johnson’s mother and the Nix family would eventually collaborate on an agreement where Johnson would stay with the Nixes to steady the ground beneath his feet and give him an environment to flourish in.
Now, Johnson calls the Nixes his adoptive family. Bo — who was selected 12th overall by the Denver Broncos in the 2024 NFL Draft — is unofficially his adoptive brother."
This wouldn't just be a fun story,, as Tez Johnson is a legitimate player and is going to go very high in the 2025 NFL Draft. Ian Cummings outlined some of Johnson's strengths here:
"Instant accelerator with unique long-strider range and blistering deep speed.Ian Cummings
Able to throttle up on demand and attack open zones with his searing explosiveness.
Energized short-area mover who can offset with rapid feet and then capitalize with burst.
Sheer speed can spook defenders upfield, as well as make him a potent vertical threat."
Tez Johnson is 5'10" and just 160 pounds, but he's got all the tools of being a true burner at the next level, and given the Broncos need for that type of player coupled with the chemistry he likely has with Bo Nix, Tez Johnson would be a great fit for the team and would make the Denver Broncos offense a lot better.
Adding both Tee Higgins and Tez Johnson in the 2025 NFL Offseason could be how the Broncos truly fix their WR woes.
Step 4: Make a tough decision between Marvin Mims Jr, Devaughn Vele, and Josh Reynolds
The last thing the Broncos may have to do is make a tough decision between Marvin Mims Jr, Devaughn Vele, and Josh Reynolds. The roster construction may not be able to have all of Higgins, Johnson, Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims Jr, Devaughn Vele, and Josh Reynolds.
Now yes, the Broncos could keep six wide receivers on the roster, but their initial 53-man roster only included five. Given that other positions on offense are going to need some love like running back, tight end, and offensive line, Denver bringing in two wide receivers and parting with two could be their game plan.
If the team did have to say goodbye to one of Mims, Vele, and Reynolds, it would probably be Reynolds, but as of now, through two weeks in the 2024 NFL Season, Reynolds has actually been the most productive wide receiver by far, so if that trend keeps up, I suppose we could see the Broncos keep all six on the active roster heading into the 2025 NFL Season.
Step 5: Roll out a WR room in 2025 of Tee Higgins, Troy Franklin, Tez Johnson, and two of Marvin Mims Jr, Devaughn Vele, and Josh Reynolds
Step 5 might be redundant if the Denver Broncos want to keep all six. But the main point I am trying to drive home here is that the team must be aggressive at the position in the offseason, period. This unit is simply not working and needs another overhaul. A lot of this blame needs to go on the shoulders of George Paton, who depleted the Denver Broncos draft capital over the last few seasons due to the trade for Russell Wilson.
And the failed Nathaniel Hackett fired basically forced Paton to trade even more capital to acquire Sean Payton. This has left certain Broncos position groups quite weak. In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Broncos will have their first and second-round picks, and I am thinking they will keep both.
There isn't any reason to trade either away unless Denver is able to get a top-end player. For example, if the Cincinnati Bengals would be shopping Ja'Marr Chase next offseason, the Broncos could make a move.
But overall, the Broncos just need to be aggressive in fixing this unit once and for all.