The Denver Broncos head into the 2026 season with one of the more interesting receiving rooms in the AFC. The top of the depth chart is settled. Courtland Sutton remains established. And the addition of Jaylen Waddle gives Bo Nix the kind of speed-based complement the offense has been missing.
But the real intrigue lives a step below those two names. Who, exactly, becomes the third pass catcher in this offense?
On a Thursday edition of “Stokley and Evans, with Mark Schlereth” on 104.3 The Fan, Mike Evans posed the question directly to the room.
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“The No. 3 pass catcher for the Broncos this season – will be who?” he asked.
Brandon Stokley didn’t hesitate.
“Evan Engram,” he said.
It’s a logical answer when you consider how Sean Payton has historically deployed his tight ends. Engram fits the mold of a player who can move around the formation, win in the middle of the field and create mismatch problems against linebackers and safeties. Stokley pointed to the timing of the projection as much as the talent itself.
“I’m gonna go Engram. I think you might see – you know he’s in the second year here, he’ll be more comfortable,” Stokley said.
That comfort factor is significant. Year two in any offense, particularly one as detailed as Payton’s, tends to come with major leaps in production. Engram already posted 50 catches for 461 yards and a touchdown in his first season, solid numbers that suggest a higher ceiling once the playbook becomes second nature.
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The candidates behind Engram, however, all bring legitimate cases. Troy Franklin’s 2025 production was the line that caught Stokley by surprise as he reviewed the numbers.
“I didn’t realize Troy Franklin had such a good year – 65 catches, 709 yards, six touchdowns. That’s a really good year,” Stokley said.
That stat line is genuinely impressive. And it positions Franklin as a real challenger for snaps in 2026.
Marvin Mims, who tallied 37 catches for 322 yards and a touchdown last year, offers explosive playmaking ability in the right packages. Pat Bryant, with 31 catches for 378 yards and a score as a rookie, is a developmental piece whose role could expand with another offseason of growth.
The reality is that the third pass-catcher conversation may not have a single answer. Different game plans will demand different solutions, and Payton has historically distributed targets based on matchups rather than rigid pecking orders.
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But if forced to pick one name to lead that group across the full season, Stokley’s vote is in. Engram is the bet, and the reasoning behind it makes plenty of sense.