Marcedes Lewis. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Marcedes Lewis signing can't be Broncos' lone trade-deadline move

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Oct 29, 2025 7:53 PM ET

If Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton thinks adding a 41-year-old backup tight end will help them dethrone the Kansas City Chiefs as the best team in the AFC West, he's mistaken.

On Wednesday, the Broncos signed TE Marcedes Lewis to their practice squad. The one-time Pro Bowler is now the second-oldest active player in the NFL, behind Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who turns 42 on Dec. 2. He's also the last active player from the 2006 NFL Draft.

Lewis adds depth to the Broncos' TE room. Denver's only two healthy TEs are Evan Engram and Adam Trautman. TE Lucas Krull is on injured reserve with a broken foot, and fellow TE Nate Adkins suffered a knee injury in a 44-24 Week 8 win over the Dallas Cowboys. But Lewis doesn't provide the horsepower Denver needs.

Marcedes Lewis won't give Broncos' passing attack more juice

Lewis is more of a blocking TE at this point in his career. Pro Football Focus gave him a solid 80.9 pass-blocking grade in 17 games with the Chicago Bears last season. That mark was also a career high. The last time he finished with more than 25 receptions in a season was with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2013.

The 2006 NFL Draft class is down to one.

Marcedes Lewis, 41, just signed with the Broncos practice squad, becoming the second-oldest active player in the NFL.

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— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) October 29, 2025

"I don't get the targets, I'm not running downfield, nor do I care about that," Lewis told The Athletic's Kevin Fishbain in 2024. "For me, I'm here to abuse guys at the point of contact in the run game, in a pass-protection game. And then every now and then they'll throw me a bone and make sure I catch and do what I got to do with it."

The Broncos lack consistent pass-catchers

The Broncos already have a bruising offensive line. Entering Week 9, PFF ranks the unit as the second-best in the league, behind the Indianapolis Colts.

What Denver needs are more quality targets for second-year QB Bo Nix. His most reliable options have been wide receivers Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin. Through eight weeks, Sutton leads the team in receiving yards (536), while Franklin has the second-most (358). No other Bronco has eclipsed Franklin's total.

That's not going to cut it in a division with the Chiefs, led by star QB Patrick Mahomes. Kansas City (5-3) has the fifth-most passing yards (251.8) in the league, while Denver (6-2) has the 14th-most (219.1).

The Broncos have reportedly been eyeing New Orleans Saints WR Rashid Shaheed — who has 431 receiving yards in eight games — before the trade deadline on Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. ET. Landing him would be ideal for Denver.

The 27-year-old wideout has a much better chance of being the piece that helps the Broncos end the Chiefs' streak of nine consecutive division titles than Lewis.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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