The Denver Broncos had to set clear priorities for the offseason, and offense topped the list.
Tight end and running back were equally urgent needs, tied for the top spot. The team addressed both positions by acquiring one player through the draft and another via free agency at each spot.
At wide receiver, the Broncos didn’t treat the position as a top priority because they already have a true No. 1 option in Courtland Sutton.
Although Sutton is likely to have another strong season, the Broncos didn’t do much to strengthen the receiving corps around him. They selected wide receiver Pat Bryant in the third round (No. 74 overall), but relying on a rookie to provide depth for a playoff-contending team is a risky move.
ESPN’s Seth Walder labeled the Broncos’ lack of wide receiver additions as their most significant offseason shortcoming. He recommended they bring in a veteran free agent to bolster the position, naming former AFC West rival and six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen as a potential fit.
Despite his criticism, Walder still gave the Broncos an overall grade of “A-” for their offseason moves.
“I wanted to see the Broncos do more at receiver,” Walder wrote on July 10. “Beyond relying on Courtland Sutton and Evan Engram, they’re probably banking on Marvin Mims Jr. or Troy Franklin to emerge. Maybe they’ll still add a veteran — possibly Keenan Allen or Amari Cooper?”
Allen Looking For Home After One Year in Chicago
Keenan Allen is currently looking for a new team after spending the 2024 season with the Chicago Bears, following 11 years with the Los Angeles Chargers.
During his lone season in Chicago, Allen recorded 70 catches for 744 yards and 7 touchdowns.
While those stats would’ve made Allen a standout in Denver last season, they actually marked his least productive year since 2016.
Now 33, Allen has been one of the league’s most reliable wide receivers over the past decade, posting six 1,000-yard seasons. He was traded to the Bears in March 2024 for a fourth-round pick in that year’s NFL Draft.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox ranked Keenan Allen No. 6 on his list of the top 10 free agents still available after the draft.
Allen played the 2024 season under the final year of the four-year, $80.1 million extension he signed with the Chargers back in 2020. For the Broncos, a reasonable starting point could be a one-year offer around $6 million, with flexibility to increase it to $8 million if necessary.
Broncos Chose Defense In First Round Of NFL Draft
In one of the more unexpected moves of the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Broncos strengthened their already strong defense by selecting Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron with the 20th overall pick.
The pick was surprising given Denver’s urgent need for offensive playmakers, and many expected them to go offense early. Instead, they addressed those needs later, picking up UCF running back RJ Harvey in the second round and wide receiver Pat Bryant in the third.
