Loaded WR Room Boosts the Denver Broncos

In the NFL, a dynamic wide receiver room can transform an offense from average to elite—and for the Denver Broncos, their 2024 WR corps has emerged as one of the most versatile and productive units in the league. After years of relying on a single standout receiver, the Broncos have built depth across the position, pairing established veterans with rising stars to create a group that can beat defenses in multiple ways. This loaded room has not only eased pressure on quarterback Russell Wilson but also made the Broncos’ offense more unpredictable, forcing opponents to spread their coverage thin. Loaded WR Room Boosts the Denver Broncos explores the key players in this unit, their unique contributions, and how their collective success has become a driving force behind the Broncos’ playoff push.

Loaded WR Room Boosts the Denver Broncos first highlights the veterans who anchor the group, starting with Courtland Sutton—a 6’4” playmaker who has evolved into Wilson’s top target. Sutton, entering his seventh season with the Broncos, has rediscovered his 2019 Pro Bowl form, leading the team with 58 catches for 762 yards and 6 touchdowns through the first 10 weeks of 2024. His greatest strength is his dominance in the red zone: Sutton has caught 12 of his 15 red-zone targets this season, using his size to outmuscle cornerbacks for contested catches. In a Week 7 win over the Green Bay Packers, Sutton’s 14-yard touchdown catch with 30 seconds left—hauled in over Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander—sealed a 27-24 victory. Joining Sutton is Jerry Jeudy, a former first-round pick whose route-running precision has made him Wilson’s go-to receiver on third downs. Jeudy ranks 5th in the NFL in third-down catches (21) and has converted 18 of those into first downs, using his quickness to create separation on slants and comebacks. “Having Courtland and Jerry gives us two completely different threats,” Wilson said in a recent interview. “Courtland wins with size, Jerry with speed and route-running—defenses can’t focus on just one of them.”

What makes Loaded WR Room Boosts the Denver Broncos truly special is the depth beyond the starters, with young receivers stepping up to provide consistent production. Second-year player Marvin Mims Jr. has emerged as a explosive deep threat, averaging 21.3 yards per catch—good for 3rd in the NFL. Mims, a 2023 second-round pick, has turned 18 catches into 383 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a 75-yard touchdown catch in Week 4 against the Chicago Bears where he outran the entire Bears secondary. The Broncos also added veteran free agent Brandin Cooks in the off-season, a reliable slot receiver who has proven invaluable in short-yardage situations. Cooks has 39 catches for 451 yards, with 70% of his receptions coming within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage, and has become Wilson’s “security blanket” when under pressure. Even the team’s fourth receiver, rookie Jalen Brooks, has made an impact, catching 12 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown in limited snaps. “Our depth is what sets us apart,” said Broncos wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni. “We can put four different receivers on the field, each with a unique skill set, and force defenses to adjust every play.”

Loaded WR Room Boosts the Denver Broncos also examines how this unit’s versatility has reshaped the Broncos’ offensive scheme. Head coach Sean Payton has designed plays that leverage each receiver’s strengths, from deep bombs to Mims to quick slot routes for Cooks. The Broncos now use more three-receiver sets (68% of their offensive snaps in 2024, up from 52% in 2023), allowing them to shift between spread formations and more compact looks depending on the defense. This flexibility was on full display in a Week 9 win over the Los Angeles Rams: the Broncos used 11 different receiver combinations, with Sutton, Jeudy, Mims, and Cooks all recording at least 50 yards. The Rams, forced to cover multiple threats, gave up 328 passing yards and 3 touchdowns—their worst defensive performance of the season. For the Denver Broncos, this versatility has made their offense harder to game-plan against: opposing defenses can’t focus on stopping the run (led by Javonte Williams) without leaving receivers open, and they can’t double-team Sutton or Jeudy without Mims or Cooks exploiting single coverage. “This WR room lets us be more creative,” Payton said. “We can adapt to any defense, and that’s a huge advantage in the AFC West.”

Loaded WR Room Boosts the Denver Broncos further explores the impact on Russell Wilson, who has enjoyed a career resurgence thanks to this group. After two inconsistent seasons in Denver, Wilson has posted a 102.3 passer rating in 2024—his highest since 2020—and has thrown just 4 interceptions, a career low for a 10-game stretch. The receivers’ ability to create separation has reduced Wilson’s time to throw (he’s averaging 2.6 seconds per pass, down from 3.1 in 2023), limiting the number of sacks he’s taken (18, compared to 33 in 2023). More importantly, the receivers’ reliability—they’ve dropped just 5 passes all season, the fewest among NFL teams with 300+ pass attempts—has given Wilson the confidence to throw into tight windows. In a Week 5 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, Wilson completed 8 of 10 passes to Jeudy and Sutton in clutch situations (defined as 4th quarter or overtime, within 8 points), including a 22-yard completion to Jeudy on 4th-and-5. “When you have receivers who catch everything and get open consistently, it changes how you play,” Wilson said. “I don’t have to force throws anymore—I can trust that someone will be open.” For the Denver Broncos, Wilson’s resurgence is directly tied to the WR room’s success; a more confident quarterback has translated to more consistent offensive production and fewer costly mistakes.

The final aspect of Loaded WR Room Boosts the Denver Broncos is the unit’s role in the team’s playoff aspirations, as the Broncos chase their first postseason berth since 2015. In the tough AFC West, where every game is a battle against elite defenses (Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders), having a loaded WR room gives the Broncos a competitive edge. Their ability to score from anywhere on the field has helped the Broncos win 4 games by 7 points or fewer, with the receivers making game-winning plays in three of those. Looking ahead to the stretch run, the Broncos face the Chiefs twice more and the Raiders once—matchups where their WR depth will be critical. If Sutton, Jeudy, Mims, and Cooks continue to produce at their current pace, the Broncos could easily secure a playoff spot and even challenge for the division title. For the Denver Broncos, this WR room isn’t just a collection of talented players—it’s the missing piece that has turned their offense into a legitimate threat. As the season progresses, their collective success will likely determine whether the Broncos end their playoff drought or fall short once again. One thing is clear, though: this loaded WR room has already made the Broncos a team to watch in 2024.