Broncos signing veteran WR

After trotting out mostly the same wide receiver group for the past four seasons, the Broncos moved on from Jerry Jeudy to signal a shift under Sean Payton. They are now adding a key piece to Payton’s second Denver roster.

Josh Reynolds is signing with the Broncos, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who indicates the ex-Lions and Rams wideout agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $14M. The Ravens were also pursuing Reynolds, but he will join Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick and Marvin Mims Jr. in Denver.

The former Rams fourth-rounder transitioned from midseason waiver claim — on a Lions team in need of receiving help during Dan Campbell‘s first season — to regular starter. 

As Detroit made its climb to the NFC North championship and the Super Bowl LVIII precipice, Reynolds operated as Amon-Ra St. Brown‘s top sidekick — even as Jameson Williams‘ role expanded. Reynolds finished last season with 40 catches for 608 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

Reynolds, 29, playing for Campbell could make a transition to Payton easier when considering the popular Lions HC spent five years as a Saints assistant. 

This will, however, mark a transition from Jared Goff, Reynolds’ QB for most of his career. The Rams let Reynolds walk after his rookie deal expired, moving on despite the 6-foot-3 target’s career-high 618 receiving yards in 2020. 

Los Angeles was carrying then-recent extensions for Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods at that point, and Reynolds signed with the Titans. That fit did not take, with the Lions claiming the Texas A&M alum following a November cut.

The Lions used Reynolds as a key St. Brown complement for two seasons, as an injury and a gambling suspension sidetracked Williams’ NFL start. 

Even with Williams back in action following his six-game 2023 ban, Reynolds maintained a regular role. That said, he did not eclipse 45 receiving yards after Williams returned to action. 

While operating mostly as a decoy, Reynolds did resurface with an 80-yard showing in the Lions’ wild-card win over the Rams. However, he dropped a crucial fourth-down pass in the Lions’ 34-31 loss to the 49ers two weeks later.

While the Reynolds contract’s base value is not yet known, this deal qualifies as more than a flier. It stands to crowd Denver’s receiver group, though Reynolds also represents insurance in case Patrick — who had ACL and Achilles tears in consecutive training camps — is unable to recapture his pre-Russell Wilson-era form. 

Denver keeping Sutton on the roster as of March 18 guaranteed the seventh-year veteran $2M of his $13M 2024 base. 

That would point to Denver’s 2023 receiving leader sticking around, but the Broncos dangled the former second-round pick in trades last year — nearly sending him to Baltimore — before turning to him as Wilson’s top target.