Broncos' Draft Needs: Will Denver look to add to their deepest position on offense?

The Denver Broncos didn’t draft one receiver last year. They didn’t draft two receivers last year. Denver drafted three receivers in the 2020 draft.

John Elway took full advantage of an incredibly strong wide receiver class in 2020 by not just investing three picks on the position, but using the Broncos’ first two picks on Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler.

With another loaded class of pass catchers on deck for the 2021 draft, will George Paton look to capitalize on the position again?

Special thanks to Andre Simone for providing draft input.

Current players on the roster

Starters:

• Courtland Sutton
• Jerry Jeudy

Depth:

• Tim Patrick
• K.J. Hamler
• DaeSean Hamilton
• Tyrie Cleveland
• Diontae Spencer
• Kendall Hinton
• Trinity Benson

Level of need entering the draft: Zero. Zilch.

Strength of position in draft: Hulk strong — Star-studded and deep

Round(s) targeted: If at all, Day 3

Top players in the draft: DeVonta Smith (Alabama), Ja’Marr Chase (LSU), Jaylen Waddle (Alabama)

College ball has no problem pumping out top talent at receiver. Last year, six (six!) receivers went in the first round, starting with Henry Ruggs at No. 12. This year, it’s quite possible three go before Ruggs’ No. 12 spot.

But that doesn’t mean Denver should be one of those teams, even sitting with the No. 9 pick.

In fact, the only way — the only way — the Broncos should take a receiver before Day 3 is if somehow Smith, Chase or Waddle drop to the second round. Then George Paton should bite. But that won’t happen. And since that won’t happen, Denver has no business going receiver early in the draft.

The Broncos already have a great problem on their hands of figuring out how to get as many of their current receivers on the field at the same time. Denver could easily roll out Sutton, Jeudy, Patrick and Hamler in a four-receiver set and be extremely dangerous. But then that would mean leaving Noah Fant on the sideline or going with an empty set.

Unless Pat Shurmur choose to run four receiver sets often, the Broncos will already be wasting some of their wideout talent by leaving them on the bench. And that doesn’t even account for Tyrie Cleveland — who showed nice flashes during his rookie season — or established veteran DaeSean Hamilton.

Denver already has a surplus of ultra-talented receivers and great depth. Using another draft pick in 2021 to bolster this group would simply be a waste of valuable resources.