Many in Broncos Country thought Denver were finished in free agency and would begin turning their attention to the NFL Draft.
Those fans caught a pleasant surprise, in the form of a notable signing on Wednesday, as the Denver Broncos inked Josh Reynolds to a two-year deal worth up to $14 million.
While the full details of the deal have yet to be released, $14 million would make Reynolds the second-most expensive signing of this offseason for the Broncos, only behind safety Brandon Jones and his three-year, $20 million deal.
Notably, 2023 was Reynolds’s first year since 2020 where he played in every regular season game, which could explain why the deal is incentive-based.
The 29-year-old receiver is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, in which he finished with 40 catches for 608 yards and tied for a career-best five touchdowns. Thanks to Detroit Lions receiver Jameson Williams’ four-game suspension, Reynolds was forced to play an expanded role in the Lions’ offense for much of the season, and did not disappoint.
Reynolds offers an all-around skillset that will be a great fit in the Denver Broncos’ wide receiver room. Similar to Tim Patrick, he is long and tall — at 6-foot-3, 194 pounds — and is capable of making tough catches over the middle, which is a must-have in Sean Payton’s offense.
Despite lacking elite speed, Reynolds is a good separator who is more than capable of operating as the “chain-mover” for the Broncos, as 32 of his 40 catches with the Lions resulted in a first down. He is also credited by PlayerProfiler.com for having a 50.9% win rate against man coverage, ranking third in the entire league.
Lastly, Reynolds has shown to be a more-than-willing blocker in the run game. He would be a big upgrade over the recently traded Jerry Jeudy in this department and should help strengthen the Broncos’ rushing attack, which struggled as a unit in 2023.
NFL fans may have soured on Reynolds following the NFC championship, where he had two crucial drops that arguably cost Detroit the game, but one game should not diminish his entire body of work. The Denver Broncos’ offense is gaining a lot of reliability by signing Reynolds
Listening to Dan Campbell talk about Reynolds, back in October, it’s easy to hear the makings of a ‘Sean Payton player’ through and through.
Campbell raved about Reynolds’ dependability with the “dirty work” and the Lions coaching staff’s trust in him, mentioning that there’s a “comfort level” with a guy like Josh. Despite all that they would throw at him, he always knew where to line up, which player to block, and how to get open.
That might not sound like the highest bar, but it’s a bar the Broncos have struggled to consistently clear over the past eight seasons.
There is no doubt that Campbell, who was on Sean Payton’s staff in New Orleans for four years, helped sell Payton on Reynolds’ worth to the team.
Denver’s second-year head coach has put a huge emphasis on trust, during his past stints, and it is believed to be a big reason why he brought over so many of his former Saints coaches and players to the Broncos. Payton’s job is unquestionably easier when everyone knows their role in his offense and he does not have to babysit anyone. The scheme fit is also there with Reynolds, as Payton and Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson run similar systems.
There is also a very real possibility that the Broncos draft a rookie quarterback in April. By adding Reynolds, Denver now has a solid offensive infrastructure that would make the transition from college to the NFL much easier for a young quarterback. Rather than throwing them into a situation where they are surrounded by young talent that is not fully developed — see Bryce Young and the Panthers — they would be starting off their career with multiple veteran receivers who are dependable and have a good understanding of Payton’s offense.
Additionally, Reynolds’s signing could make drafting a receiver early less of a priority in 2024. While they did not give him an excruciating amount of money, the room is now rather crowded with Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds, Marvin Mims Jr, Tim Patrick, Brandon Johnson, and Lil’Jordan Humphrey. While those latter three might not be guaranteed roster spots, that room does allow the Broncos to more easily prioritize targeting the best players available to them, by diminishing one of their glaring needs.
With this in mind, there may be an increased expectation of Denver drafting a quarterback, offensive lineman, defensive lineman, or edge rusher in Round 1.
