Broncos Sign Former Saints WR Who Blossomed Under Sean Payton

Sean Payton continues to orchestrate happy reunions in Denver with former New Orleans players and coaches.

On Friday, the Denver Broncos announced they've signed fourth-year wide receiver Marquez Callaway to a one-year deal. He's the second former New Orleans Saints offensive player to be signed in as many days. 

Hailing from the University of Tennessee, Callaway went undrafted in 2020 before signing with Sean Payton's Saints as a college free agent. After Payton stepped away in 2022, Callaway went on to haul in 16 receptions for 158 yards and a touchdown with the Saints. 

The year prior, Callaway totaled 46 receptions for 698 yards and six touchdowns in Payton's scheme. Callaway has appeared in 42 regular-season games (17 starts), notching a total of 83 receptions for 1,069 yards, with seven touchdowns during his career.

The 6-foot-2, 204-pound Callaway joins a receiving corps in Denver that has been the source of many offseason trade rumors. With Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and Tim Patrick at the top of the depth chart, Callaway steps in to give Payton a bonafide, experienced receiver (in his scheme) who can wear multiple hats on offense. 

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Some fans will wonder what the Callaway signing means for Jeudy and Sutton. For now, it should have little-to-no influence on whether the Broncos opt to keep their top two wideouts. Barring an offer that includes a first-round pick, it doesn't appear the Broncos will trade Jeudy, and many of the wide receiver-needy teams have since acquired players in free agency to fill those holes. 

With KJ Hamler suffering a torn pec, which will take 4-6 months to recover from, the Broncos' wide receiver depth isn't as ideal as some would think. Beyond Callaway, the Broncos have two second-year receivers in Montrell Washington and Jalen Virgil, both of whom can provide some speed and quick-twitch explosiveness for Payton but are the epitome of inexperienced. 

The Broncos plan to fortify the ground game and provide quarterback Russell Wilson with a physical foundation with which to build an offense in Payton's image. Those fortifications have included investments in O-line studs like Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers, as well as running backs Samaje Perine and Tony Jones, Jr.

Don't think for a moment, though, that Payton is looking to trot out a run-crazy offensive scheme reminiscent of the times Taysom Hill had to start at quarterback in New Orleans. The Broncos will have a sophisticated passing scheme (it is Payton, after all), but it will be supported by a physically mauling ground attack. 

Wilson will have the opportunity to make some hay with the play-action game, that's for sure. Callaway's arrival, on top of the incumbent receiving corps and a pair of young, pass-catching tight ends in Greg Dulcich and Albert Okwuegbunam, gives Payton the pieces to fully flesh out his offensive vision in the Mile High City. 

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