The moment the Broncos traded for Jaylen Waddle, a large chunk of the fanbase and national media seemed ready to hand the newcomer the WR1 crown before he ever put on an orange jersey. Waddle’s speed is elite, his route running is crisp, and his ability to stop and explode is rare. His arrival undeniably gives Bo Nix and Sean Payton an offensive dimension they simply didn’t have last season.
But does that automatically make him the top wide receiver in Denver?
ADVERTISEMENT
Zach Bye doesn’t think so. And the co-host of “The Drive” has the numbers back him up.
Courtland Sutton is already producing like a No. 1
Despite the loud detractors who insist Sutton is “the worst No. 1 receiver in the league” or a WR2 on a true contender, Sutton’s résumé tells a different story. He’s coming off his second straight 1,000‑yard season and he was one of the central reasons why Denver reached the AFC Championship Game last year. Sutton caught the team’s lone touchdown in that game and nearly helped deliver a win with a backup quarterback.
He also landed at No. 68 on the NFL Top 100 list, the same ranking Phillip Lindsay earned when he made the list — while Waddle is not expected to appear this year.
Waddle has been great, but always as a No. 2
None of this diminishes Jaylen Waddle’s talent. He’s an awesome receiver and one of the league’s best No. 2 options. But that’s the key: he’s only ever been a No. 2, playing next to Tyreek Hill in Miami.
ADVERTISEMENT
Last season, when Hill went down and Waddle became the Dolphins’ top threat, Waddle didn’t match Sutton’s production:
• Waddle: 100 targets, 64 catches, 910 yards
• Sutton: 124 targets, 74 catches, 1,017 yards
Yes, context matters. Bo Nix led the league in pass attempts, while Miami’s quarterback situation imploded when Tua Tagovailoa “turned back into a pumpkin.” But even with that context, assuming Waddle is the automatic WR1 in Denver feels premature.
Zach Bye: Sutton isn’t getting the respect he deserves
On “The Drive,” Bye has been one of Sutton’s most vocal defenders. He loves pointing out that Sutton led the NFL in explosive plays on thrd and fourth down last season — 15 of them, a staggering number for a possession receiver.
Zach said he doesn’t believe Sutton will be displaced so easily.
“Automatically usurped just because Jaylen Waddle’s faster?” Bye quipped.
ADVERTISEMENT
He doubled down.
“There is a lack of appreciation for Sutton in Denver,” Bye added.
And if he had to bet today? Zach is taking Sutton to have the better season.
He cites Sutton’s consistency, his red‑zone dominance and his established rapport with Bo Nix — all things that matter more than raw speed when determining who a quarterback trusts most.
The real winner? The Denver Broncos
The debate between Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton might rage all offseason, but the truth is simple: Denver wins either way. Waddle’s speed and explosiveness should open things up for Sutton, while Sutton’s ability to draw double teams should create opportunities for Waddle, as well.
Waddle brings the explosiveness. Sutton brings the reliability and production.
Seems like a good problem to have.