Marvin Mims has come through for the Broncos at key points, most notably catching a touchdown pass to give the team a late regulation lead over the Bills in a divisional-round win. But the All-Pro return man/part-time wide receiver saw Denver trade for Jaylen Waddle in March, changing the team’s long-term outlook at the position.
The Broncos extended Courtland Sutton last year and have seen him post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with Bo Nix at the controls. The team also used midround picks on Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant since trading into the 2023 second round to draft Mims. In Mims’ contract year, the Waddle trade may well point to this being an audition season ahead of a 2027 free agency bid.
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Although Mims reiterated (via TheDNVR.com’s Zac Stevens) he would embrace a Broncos extension — which the Oklahoma product said he was open to earlier this offseason — he acknowledged the team “can’t keep everybody.”
The Broncos have authorized plenty of extensions for players drafted by GM George Paton — both before and after Sean Payton‘s arrival — but they now have three wideout holdovers and Waddle signed beyond 2026. Waddle’s skillset also figures to minimize the chances of Mims moving toward a bigger role on offense.
“Really, it’s just whatever the team needs from me,” Mims said, via Stevens. “Sometimes I’m not in the most fortunate situations. Sometimes I am a little irritated with my situation. But at the end of the day, I’m blessed to be where I am With this possibly being my last year (in Denver), I’m just going to enjoy it to the fullest.”
Last summer, we heard Mims had a good shot to be the Broncos’ No. 2 wide receiver. Instead, Franklin assumed that role and posted a 709-yard, six-touchdown season. Franklin boosted his snap share from 37% as a rookie to 59% in 2025. Bryant, selected in the 2025 third round, played 48% of Denver’s offensive snaps and tallied 378 receiving yards as a rookie. Mims did see his role expand from 2024, going from a 27% snap share to 37%, but he did not build on a promising second season. Mims totaled just 322 receiving yards and one score in the regular season.
Mims did come through for the Broncos when needed in the playoffs, as the team lost both Franklin and Bryant to injuries. Mims caught eight passes for 93 yards and a TD against Buffalo and snagged a 52-yard reception to set up Denver’s only score in what became a blizzard-marred loss to New England in the AFC championship game. Rather than entrust Mims to see a bigger workload in 2026, the Broncos traded first- and third-round picks for Waddle. The five-year Dolphins starter will join Sutton atop the Broncos’ pass-game pecking order, while Mims figures to vie with Franklin and Bryant for auxiliary work.
Mims, 24, may drift back to a return-heavy role in his contract year. That would stand to impact his free agency value, though teams have undoubtedly observed the 5-foot-11 target’s big-play ability on offense as well. Barring an extension, Mims will become one of the more interesting 2027 free agents. Mims has begun preparing for a second contract — be it from the Broncos or another team — as Stevens adds the returner/receiver is now represented by Athletes First.
Waddle’s speed-based skillset overlaps with Mims’, but the Broncos are not expected to trade one of their supporting-casters at the position following the blockbuster Dolphins swap. Waddle’s arrival gives the Broncos — previously a Sutton-dependent offense — a surplus at wide receiver, and how the Franklin-Bryant-Mims trio is used will be an interesting storyline to follow as the team attempts to follow its 2025 success.