Finding Broncos: 5 Wide Receivers to Add Dynamic Ability to Unit

Finding Broncos scouts the 2023 NFL Draft with a group of wide receivers who can add a dynamic ability to the unit.

While the Denver Broncos have a solid receiver room on paper, they have looked to make multiple changes over the past couple of months. They have been involved in trade rumors around Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton and were also linked with a few free agents. They want to upgrade the room and could do so with one of their five draft picks. 

Malik Knowles | WR | Kansas State

© Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

• He has good size and length. 
• He has experience as a kick returner, averaging 27.9 yards per return over his career. 
• He has good timing when attacking the catch point. 
• He has reliable hands and plucks the ball out of the air. 
• He has the versatility to work on the boundary or in the slot. 
• He is a smooth and fluid route runner with clean cuts and breaks. 

Cons

• He lacks burst to create instant separation. 
• There isn't great acceleration, taking time to reach his top speed. 
• There is a bad habit of easing up on longer routes. 
• When the play breaks down, he has to improve his ability to make himself a target. 
• There needs to be improvement when getting off press coverage. 

Fit with Broncos

The best value Knowles brings is as a returner. There is some room for growth to find himself a role as the fifth or sixth receiver. He isn't overly explosive, which the Broncos are looking for. However, if they want a returner with experience, then Knowles would make sense as an undrafted rookie. 

Dontayvion Wicks | WR | Virginia

© Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

• He has a shorter compact frame that is well-built. 
• He has elite explosion with solid athleticism overall. 
• He is a great deep threat with explosive play-making potential. 
• He has good footwork to get off press. 
• His ball tracking is great when attacking deep. 
• He does well adjusting to deep balls that aren't placed in a good spot. 
• He averaged 18.8 yards per catch in his career. 

Cons

• There isn't great long speed. 
• There are issues with ball security. 
• His hands are not reliable, with nine drops in 2022. 
• There hasn't been much there with his play after the catch. 
• His routes aren't nuanced, and he is a straight-line runner. 
• There are times he gives up on the ball early. 
• He can be complacent when dealing with physicality. 

Fit with Broncos

The Broncos are looking for an explosive play-making receiver, and Wicks would be a solid option. However, his issue with ball security is an issue. Other options fit what the Broncos seek without the ball security issues. 

What happens next on the Broncos? Don't miss out on any news and analysis! Please take a second, sign up for our free newsletter, and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily!

Andrei Iosivas | WR | Princeton

© Peter Ackerman / USA TODAY NETWORK

Pros

• He has good height and length, with a frame that can add more mass. 
• He is an excellent athlete. 
• He dominated the competition he went against. 
• His hands were soft and reliable, with seven drops over three seasons. 
• He has quick feet that can be improved to help him get off press. 
• The athleticism is a great tool that can be better utilized with improved technique. 

Cons

• His frame can use a little tweaking with a bit more mass. 
• He has a bad habit of double clutching and body catching, which could lead to more drops in the NFL. 
• He consistently allowed himself to be bullied and controlled by physical corners. 
• He has length, but his catch radius is limited. 
• There has to be an improvement in using his size to protect the catch point. 

Fit with Broncos

He is a great athlete that can be an explosive playmaker in the NFL. The issue is he has to handle physical coverage better. That can fit what the Broncos are looking for, and there is plenty of room for additional development for a bigger role in his second or third year. 

Jalen Brooks | WR | South Carolina

© Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

• He has a solid compact frame. 
• He has excellent length, which helps extend his catch radius. 
• He has good hands and looks to pluck the ball out of the air. 
• There is good hand technique to combat defensive backs' hands and clear out the catch point. 
• He does well adjusting to throws and changing his tempo through routes. 
• He can make it hard for defenders to bring him down. 

Cons

• He doesn't have great long speed. 
• His change of direction can be clunky. 
• There isn't a large body of work, with 61 catches over four years. 
• His footwork is a mess and can get him into trouble through routes. 
• He doesn't fit off physical corners and can easily be squeezed against the sideline. 
• He doesn't run his routes with bend, which can make his change of direction even worse. 

Fit with Broncos

Brooks has a good catch radius, and his hands have been reliable, despite the lack of exposure. There are traits worth developing that would make sense for the Broncos as an undrafted rookie. 

Justin Shorter | WR | Florida

© Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

• He has a great build on his frame. 
• There is good athleticism and decent enough speed. 
• His hands are soft and reliable. 
• He does well in using his frame to protect the catch point. 
• He does well in protecting the ball when dealing with contact. 
• His feet are light and quick, with sound footwork. 
• He does well tracking the ball and will attack the ball at the high point. 

Cons

• He doesn't have great agility. 
• He can be tough to bring down after the catch. 
• There are some questionable moments when dealing with more challenging catches. 
• He can be late off the snap, and his acceleration isn't great. 

Fit with Broncos

Justin Shorter is a big receiver who uses his size well. As a route runner, there are technical issues that need to be worked out. He may be considered a candidate to add some mass and become a tight end in the NFL. The fit as a rookie isn't there, but he can be worth a shot as a developmental receiver on the practice squad. 

The wide receiver draft class is lacking at the top, but they have some solid mid-round options. If the Broncos don't land one, they could also look at adding some undrafted free agents. 

---

Follow Erick on Twitter @ErickTrickel.

Follow Mile High Huddle on Twitter and Facebook.

Subscribe to Mile High Huddle on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts!