Broncos’ biggest mistake at 2025 NFL trade deadline

While Nix has flashed stardom and come up big in clutch moments, there has also been plenty of stagnation with the Broncos’ offense. They particularly struggle at the beginning of the game, which is why they’ve been forced to make magic happen late. The clutch gene is important to have, but relying on comebacks on a nearly weekly basis isn’t a sustainable strategy.

The Broncos should have added a receiver at the trade deadline who would have helped create more stability on offense. Denver had rumored interest in Shaheed and Waddle, the former of whom was definitely available at the trade deadline because he was sent to the Seattle Seahawks. Shaheed is just a burner, though, and the Broncos already have that in Marvin Mims. There is a realistic path toward Nix and his receivers connecting on the deep balls they’ve missed on far too often this season, even without Shaheed.

That is why Waddle was the receiver the Broncos should have pursued even harder. Waddle is also a deep threat, and he’d be just as likely as Shaheed to take the top off opposing defenses. Waddle does more than Shaheed in the short and intermediate parts of the field, though. The former first-rounder was part of a stacked rookie receiver class in 2021, but he stood above the rest in his first season. The Alabama product surpassed 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons before injuries got the best of him last year.

Unfortunately, Waddle’s production is seemingly trending the wrong way, but that could be attributed to the inconsistent play of Tua Tagovailoa. In Denver, Waddle would have tied the receiving corps together. Mims brings the big plays and the gadget ability, Courtland Sutton is a fantastic jump ball threat and possession receiver, and Troy Franklin has Nix’s confidence because of their time together at Oregon. The offense would have been nearly as potent as the defense had the team pulled the trigger on a Waddle trade.

The Broncos were reportedly unwilling to give up the first-round pick that the Dolphins were requiring in return. The market was inflated this year, and the Broncos didn’t feel comfortable mortgaging their future. Overpaying for veterans is a common mistake in the NFL, so this justification makes sense.

However, the NFL is wide open this year with teams like the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs not winning as many games as usual, so if the Broncos were ever going to go all in, they should have done so at the 2025 NFL trade deadline.