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Denver Broncos landed potentially massive free agent steal

By Sayre Bedinger

NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 07: Marquez Callaway #1 of the New Orleans Saints gets set against the Baltimore Ravens at Caesars Superdome on November 7, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 07: Marquez Callaway #1 of the New Orleans Saints gets set against the Baltimore Ravens at Caesars Superdome on November 7, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) /
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The Denver Broncos have had yet another very busy offseason in 2023, once again changing head coaches with Sean Payton coming to town via trade with the New Orleans Saints. After Payton came from the Saints, it only made sense that there would be a mass exodus of players from New Orleans making their way to the Mile High City, and we’ve seen exactly that in the 2023 offseason.

Notably, the Broncos needed some veteran depth at the wide receiver position this offseason and the biggest move they ended up making (after interest in both Adam Thielen and Allen Lazard in free agency) was signing former Saints receiver Marquez Callaway.

Let’s be honest — the Denver Broncos have bigger fish to fry than worrying about whether or not Marquez Callaway is about to have a big season with the team. Quarterback Russell Wilson has to get things going, or things could once again get really crazy for this franchise in 2023-2024. The team signed Jarrett Stidham in case you know what hits the fan in 2023.

But every free agent signing matters, and it’s possible that Callaway ends up being a key missing ingredient that this team and its horrendous offense has been needing.

Marquez Callaway a sleeper UDFA for the Denver Broncos

Callaway broke into the NFL back in 2020 when he caught 21 passes for 213 yards, but he had a breakout campaign in 2021 for the Saints when he emerged as a top option in their passing game with 46 receptions for 698 yards and six touchdowns. He had some really big games in that 2021 season, including in prime time against the vaunted Buccaneers’ defense.

The 2021 season was, of course, the final year of the Sean Payton era for the New Orleans Saints. Upon Payton’s departure, Callaway’s role in New Orleans disappeared. He caught just 16 passes a season ago and averaged a career-low 11.1 yards per game.

It’s no coincidence that Callaway came to Denver shortly after Payton arrived.

Callaway brings good size to the table at 6-foot-2 and he’s still just 25 years old. There are a handful of rookies coming into the league this year that are 25, and Callaway has already had the chance to cut his teeth at the NFL level for a few years. Now, he joins a loaded Denver Broncos receiver room which is also getting back a healthy Tim Patrick in 2023.

Yes, Callaway will be just one piece of that Denver Broncos receiver group, but given his ties to Sean Payton, and the productivity we saw from him the last time he and Payton were together, I think this could end up being one of the more underrated moves of the offseason, at least as far as the Denver Broncos are concerned.

The Broncos have had a wide variety of unfortunate injuries the last handful of years, especially at receiver. A player like Callaway really raises the floor of that room and gives them an option with upside who has familiarity with the new offense Payton is installing.

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