The Denver Broncos have a lot of youth and potential at the wide receiver.
It’s one of the position groups on the roster that could really help take the Broncos to the next level if several of the players improve and begin to hit their stride. Longtime veteran Courtland Sutton, entering his eighth year, is the leader of the group. Outside of him, most players battling for a position have less than three years of experience in the National Football League.
Over the past three drafts, the Broncos have added Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, Devaughn Vele, and Pat Bryant. In addition to Sutton, those five make up one of the most talented receiving corps the franchise has fielded in recent memory. How Head Coach Sean Payton will choose to utilize and divvy up the target share amongst the group will be one of the more interesting developments and storylines to follow this season.
With training camp just a few weeks away, let’s dive into the Broncos’ receiving corps for the 2025 season.
2025 Denver Broncos Wide Receiver Review
Courtland Sutton — Starter — Top Target Share
Entering the final year of his contract, Sutton is the elder statesmen of the Broncos’ receiving corps and likely top target for quarterback Bo Nix for the 2025 season. Though his future in the Mile High City is uncertain.
Throughout his career, Sutton has consistently wowed with his acrobatic highlight reel catches. Alas, issues with drops and average catch-rates on an annual basis have hindered his production. Though in his defense, he has had to work with a lot of different quarterbacks—several of which who struggle with accuracy. But with Nix at the helm, there should be a lot more consistency and chemistry between the two in ‘25.
In just two years in Payton’s offense, Sutton has racked up 18 touchdowns—which is more than what he had in his first five seasons combined. His 140 receptions and 1,853 yards in that timeframe are also the most for the franchise. I would expect Sutton to receive the most looks in the passing game this season. Last year, he had a career high 135 targets—though I could envision a slight decrease in that for a variety of factors.
His 60-percent catch percentage in 2024 was average, but 57 of his 81 receptions moved the chains or resulted in a touchdown. With a modest rise of efficiency to catch percentage, it’s quite possible Sutton could have the best year of his career to date—but whether or not it is his last with the franchise is also something to keep note of.
DeVaughn Vele — Starter — Projected #2 WR in Target Share
The 26-year-old rookie from Utah surprised last offseason with an impressive training camp and preseason that earned him a spot on the final 53-man roster.
Tough, physical and with an impressive wingspan, Vele’s presence on the field offers a mismatch opportunity against smaller cornerbacks who can’t compete with his size. With the Josh Reynolds saga coming to a screeching and unexpected halt, Vele filled the void and became a quality chain-moving option for the Broncos.
In thirteen games with seven starts, Vele sported a quality 74.5-percent catch percentage, reeling in 41 of his 55 targets for 475 yards and three touchdowns. Of those 41 receptions. 26 of them went for first downs. Had he not dealt with lingering injuries, he would have had even more production.
In my opinion, Vele was one of the big surprises from last season. While he may not be as explosive as some of the other receivers athletically, he is a sure-handed target that proved to be reliable when called upon. I wouldn’t sleep on Payton having larger plans for him in ‘25—and I think he is poised to be the second receiver, as far as target share goes, for the upcoming campaign.
Marvin Mims Jr. — All-Pro Returner — Unique Offensive Weapon
Earning All-Pro and Pro-Bowl honors in his first two seasons in the NFL, Mims has made an impact as a returner. However, his contributions as a receiver to date might best be described as modest. On the bright side, things seemed to click for him toward the end of his ‘24 campaign and did improve upon his rookie campaign.
It took some time for him to be a steady fixture in Payton’s offense, but he was utilized in a myriad of fashions late last season and made some impact plays. I thought the use of him in motion and out of the backfield was a welcomed wrinkle to the team’s offensive dynamic. Over the course of seventeen games, he logged 503 yards, 39 catches, and 6 touchdowns last season on 52 targets.
I don’t envision a 1,000 receiving yard season for the former Sooners standout, but if he can continue to build upon his late season efforts, reeling in 50 receptions and getting over 750 yards wouldn’t be a surprise. I have no doubt that with Payton’s creativity, he will be able to scheme him up for maximum effectiveness and become a quality complimentary weapon for the offense.
Marvin Mims’ yards per route run rose from 1.54 in 2023 to 2.37 in 2024.
He also led Denver’s starting WRs in target per route rate at 24 percent, up from nine percent in 2023.
Although his snap percentage was low, the huge improvements in efficiency are hard to ignore. pic.twitter.com/7mfN4wSOlY
— Zareh Kantzabedian (@ZKantzFF) June 24, 2025
Troy Franklin — Backup Role
The Broncos moved up to the early portion of the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft to select Franklin and reunite him with Nix.
His rookie season was a series of highs and lows. In sixteen games, the former Oregon Duck had 23 catches for 263 yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, he was credited three drops on 53 targets and had a paltry catch-percentage of 53-percent. Out of the three young receivers on the roster last year, he was the least effective and his play was the most inconsistent.
However, his speed and ability to separate are intriguing traits that should bode well for him in his second season. If he can clean up the drops and down-the-field ball tracking issues, I would expect a decent rise in production. However, he will have to make the most of the opportunities. There are only so many targets to go around.
Pat Bryant — Backup Role — Wildcard Player
The Broncos picked Illinois standout Pat Bryant in the third-round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
On multiple occasions over the offseason, Payton discussed how Bryant reminds him of Michael Thomas. That’s lofty praise, though I wouldn’t expect that kind of an impact in his first season in the pros. Of any player in the group. I think Bryant is the biggest wildcard.
He’s physical, a good run blocker, and has strong hands—but will he be able to pick up the playbook quickly enough to carve a role for himself early on? That remains to be seen, but the long-term upside here is significant.
If the Broncos aren’t able to come to terms on a contract extension with Sutton, Bryant’s future prospects and target share for the team should skyrocket in subsequent seasons.
Everyone Else — Fighting for the Sixth Roster Spot | Special Teams Role
Trent Sherfield Sr., A.T. Perry, Michael Bandy, and undrafted free agents Joaquin Davis, Courtney Jackson, and Kyrese White are the other six players vying for a roster spot. Given Sherfield’s experience in the league and being a quality special team’s player, I would slot him in as the presumptive sixth receiver for the squad.
Final Thoughts
When you take a look at the history of Payton offenses, there is one common theme that really sticks out. The number one receiver, number one running back, and top tight end usually have the most targets in the passing game. With Evan Engram in the fold and multiple additions made at running back, I’d expect that to be the case this season.
Quite often, the second, third, and fourth receivers in his offense usually receive less target share than the aforementioned. Last year, Mims, Vele and Franklin were all in the fifties in that respect with no clear advantage. All things considered, I do expect all three to increase their efficiency and productivity in ‘25, though I would be floored if any of them topple the 1,000-yard mark.
Without question, it’s a crowded room with a lot of potential. How the young receivers acclimate to another year in the big leagues and perform throughout camp and the preseason will be a big factor in how Payton chooses to concoct his target share and game planning for the season. I’m excited to see how it plays out.