Will The Denver Broncos Acquire A Top Wide Receiver At The Deadline?

The Denver Broncos currently sit at 5-2 on the season, with one of, if not the best, defenses in the entire NFL. With the trade deadline looming, Denver could be in the market to add another playmaker on the offensive side of the football. With Bo Nix still on a rookie deal, General Manager George Paton could look to capitalize on the AFC being wide open.

Broncos Among Teams Searching For WRs

According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, the Denver Broncos are one of the top teams that are in the market for a wide receiver:

“Perhaps the biggest contender for a receiver is not the Steelers but instead the Broncos. Courtland Sutton is 30 years old and just signed a four-year extension with an out after next season. Denver has all of its picks through the fifth round and added a fourth from the Saints in the preseason. The Broncos are 5-2 with a top-ranked defense and a quarterback on his rookie deal for at least another season. Folks around the league are watching the Broncos to see how aggressive they may be.”

The Broncos have a ton of weapons on offense, along with a fantastic offensive line. The one thing they’re missing is a real threat in the slot. Outside of Courtland Sutton, Denver doesn’t have another receiver who can truly take over a game and draw a lot of attention to opposing defenses. Marvin Mims and Troy Franklin are both great players, but the Broncos’ offense could take a huge step forward if they decided to trade for another top-end wideout.

Who Is On the Trade Block?

One of the top names on the trade market right now is New Orleans Saints WR Chris Olave. With the Saints entering a rebuild under Kellen Moore, it makes a ton of sense to move on from Olave and get whatever you can in return. For Denver, he couldn’t be a better fit. Acquiring Olave wouldn’t break the bank as far as draft capital, only costing a 3rd or 4th round pick. Sean Payton would have yet another weapon on offense and could put him into the slot alongside Sutton. Olave is only making $1.4 million this year, with his $15.4 million club option kicking in at the start of next season.

Some lesser-known names that could be under the radar include Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks. Yes, every target is coming from the Saints’ wide receiving room. These are two additional solid options for Denver, but they don’t really elevate their offense as much as Olave would. The reason why Denver could turn to Shaheed and Cooks is that they’re hesitant to give Olave a long-term extension due to his injury history.

The Broncos are in the perfect spot regardless of who they target at the Deadline. They are leading the AFC West and control their own destiny. Nix is also a cheap option for the next two years, making just over $5 million in 2026 and 2027. We know they wanted to add a receiver next to Sutton in the offseason, but the market just never developed. One of the top options in the draft was WR Emeka Egbuka out of Ohio State, but he was taken with the pick before Denver was on the clock, by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.