The Denver Broncos evaluated several options for the 30th pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, ultimately deciding that trading for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was the best move, Head Coach Sean Payton said on Mar. 31 at the NFL Annual Meeting in Phoenix.
Payton said that after considering seven or eight potential players who might be available with their draft pick, acquiring Waddle provided more value to the team. “We didn’t feel like that [pick] would help us as much as Jaylen Waddle,” Payton said.
Describing Waddle as a dynamic addition to the roster, Payton praised his speed and agility. “With regards to the player, he is explosive,” he said. “I think if you asked me the single biggest thing that I think he does well is he’s extremely fast and he stops fast. He can sink his hips in transition.” He also highlighted Waddle’s competitiveness and character: “When it comes to Waddle’s ‘all the other stuff,’ it was 10, 10, 10, 10, 10. So, I think, obviously, it will help us.” Payton confirmed that Waddle will play both slot and outside receiver roles.
Addressing free agency decisions ahead of his first season with Denver in 2023 and reflecting on recent personnel moves, Payton emphasized sticking with their strategy despite external opinions. “[Be] steady, [make the] right decision,” he said. “‘What’s our plan?’ Stick with our plan. Tune out the noise. Same is going to apply to this draft.” He noted a focus on re-signing key players over pursuing external free agents due to what he described as a low success rate for outside signings.
Looking ahead to offseason preparations following an extended postseason run ending at the AFC Championship Game, Payton outlined adjustments for voluntary workouts starting May 4. The first month will focus exclusively on strength training before football activities begin in June: “All of May will just be weightlifting… We’ll have two weeks of OTAs and a week of minicamp,” he said.
In other roster developments discussed during the meeting, third-year linebacker Jonah Elliss will take some snaps at inside linebacker due to team depth at outside linebacker positions and Elliss’ skill set projection according to Payton: “Sometimes you have to look at the skill set…and your depth on the edge that allows you to do something like that.”
