Bo Nix, a rookie first-round selection, may start as quarterback for the Denver Broncos in the opening week of the regular season. Nix has made 61 starts in his career, making him the most experienced quarterback in NCAA history. Nevertheless, the Broncos can facilitate his NFL transition. Their wide receiver corps is deep. Very few, nevertheless, have been validated. According to Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, the Broncos can benefit from a former Las Vegas Raider in free agency.
“A club must eventually take a chance on receiver Hunter Renfrow, don’t they? Though he has struggled in the last two seasons, Knox noted on July 4 that the 28-year-old was a Pro Bowl player with the Raiders in 2021. “The Denver Broncos ought to consider looking into Renfrow.” Denver lacks a lot of reliable pass-catchers following Courtland Sutton and is focusing on developing rookie quarterback Bo Nix. “John Morton, who oversees Denver’s passing game, was a senior offensive assistant with the Raiders in Renfrow’s Pro Bowl season.” Renfrow’s 2021 Pro Bowl season saw him grab 103 catches for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns. In the two seasons since, he has 61 receptions for 585 yards and two scores, including a 25-255-0 line this past season. He had just entered the last season of a $32.3 million, two-year contract deal.
This next season, Renfrow was scheduled to count $13 million against the salary cap. Renfrow was released by the Raiders in March, saving $8 million. Additionally, Knox mentioned that three-time Michael Thomas is a free agent and a pro bowler. Sean Payton, the head coach of the Broncos, knows Thomas from their days together with the New Orleans Saints. On the other hand, one of the guys who looks to provide the Broncos some steadiness is also expected to play a similar position as Thomas. Pro Football Focus stated in the receiver’s free agency profile that “Reynolds does not have the best release package or quickest jump off the line, but he has a good feel for where he is on the football field and is generally sure-handed.
” Typically a dependable weapon of choice for third and fourth downs. As a run blocker, Reynolds also performs admirably in condensed splits to square up linebackers and safeties at the second level. Thomas was just one place higher. Thomas can still make contested receptions with excellent hands and sideline footwork, according to PFF. “It’s all a question of health; he doesn’t quite have the explosiveness of his heyday, but elite athleticism wasn’t necessarily how he won as more of a master technician.” With the Detroit Lions last season, Reynolds caught 40 passes for 608 yards and tied his career high with five touchdowns.
In free agency, he agreed to a two-year, $9 million contract with the Broncos. Thomas had his highest appearances since the 2019 season with ten games. Because of this, Renfrow, who is three years younger than Thomas, would fit in this group more comfortably. However, Renfrow might have more obstacles than just the former Saints player to get onto the Broncos squad. It is not anticipated that the Broncos will contend for a postseason berth this year. That may work against a veteran trying to establish himself in free agency like Renfrow. Denver hopes to develop a number of young players in addition to Nix.
The trade of Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns will allow 2023 second-round selection Marvin Mims Jr. to play a bigger part in the offense, according to Payton. In the return game as a rookie, Mims was selected to the Pro Bowl. If he signed, he could play a similar role for Denver as Renfrow would.
