PHOENIX — Just because the Broncos have Jaylen Waddle in the mix doesn’t mean they’re interested in offloading any of their wide receivers.
“Why would we build up this room then trade someone right now?” general manager George Paton asked Monday morning as he met media for the first time since the Broncos’ blockbuster trade for the former Miami Dolphins wide receiver — a deal that he acknowledged “hurt” a bit in terms of having to surrender two of the team’s first three draft choices as part of the exchange to acquire the playmaking pass catcher.
“We really like those pieces and they’re all going to help us. They’ve all helped us up to now,” Paton said.
That not only includes Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant, Marvin Mims Jr. and Troy Franklin, but Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Michael Bandy, with the latter two players named by Paton as he discussed the position group.
“We’re seven, eight deep,” Paton said. “We really like it.”
Now, there won’t be room for all of them on the active roster. But with Humphrey, the Broncos could easily release him at the 53-player roster deadline, bring him back on the practice squad for three weeks, then move him back to the primary roster. As a vested veteran, Humphrey would not be subject to the waiver system.
“We have a great room,” Paton said. “And [Waddle] just upgrades or he just helps the room and opens, up the run game. He’ll open it up for the other receivers. So we think he’ll fit in well with the group.”