Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix has plenty of weapons entering the 2026 NFL season.
That doesn’t mean any of his wide receivers are top-10 in the league.
Or even close for that matter.
ESPN continued to release its series of articles highlighting the best players in the NFL on Wednesday, and next up was wide receivers. Jeremy Fowler polled league executives, coaches and scouts to compile these lists.
While Pat Surtain II was the No. 1 cornerback, Nix finished at 18th in the QB rankings. And unfortunately the Broncos didn’t have much success in the wide receiver category.
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Neither Courtland Sutton nor the newly acquired Jaylen Waddle cracked the top-10 or made the honorable mentions. Waddle “received votes,” but it’s unclear how many.
Ja’Marr Chase was No. 1 followed by Justin Jefferson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Puka Nacua, Amon-Ra St. Brown, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Nico Collins, A.J. Brown and Davante Adams rounding out the top-10.
Six guys were honorable mention, including Malik Nabers, Mike Evans, Zay Flowers, Tyreek Hill Drake London and Jameson Williams.
After that a slew of wide receivers earned at least one vote along with Waddle. He joined the likes of Alec Pierce, Tee Higgins, DK Metcalf, Terry McLaurin, Garrett Wilson, DeVonta Smith, Ladd McConkey, Brian Thomas Jr. and Chris Olave.
That’s a lot of folks who got some love, but not Sutton.
He topped 1,000 yards receiving last season and was No. 68 in the NFL’s top-100 earlier this week. That’s voted on by players who are clearly higher on Sutton than league personnel.
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The Broncos gave up a first-round pick (and more) to acquire Waddle in the spring, getting him off a bad Dolphins team and to a contender in Denver.
Do these lists affect what happens on the field? No. But they can be used as motivation.
Sutton, Waddle and the rest of the Broncos receivers will be out to prove those polled wrong.
To see the full results, click here.