What happened: Jaylen Waddle heads into his first season with the Denver Broncos, and attention around the league is turning to how the newly reshaped receiver room will perform in 2026. Waddle has been working with the team since offseason workouts began, and his fit alongside quarterback Bo Nix is the central question of Denver's summer.
Why it matters: Denver's offense lacked big plays last season, and Waddle's speed profile is exactly the trait the front office targeted when it reshaped its receiver room around him. If the pairing with Nix clicks, it changes the ceiling of the entire offense heading into the 2026 season.
By the numbers: The Broncos ranked in the bottom 10 in explosive-play rate last season, while Waddle posted a 25% explosive catch rate — the gap Denver is counting on him to close.
What to watch: Watch how Waddle is deployed when Broncos training camp opens later this summer, and how quickly the chemistry with Bo Nix develops in preseason work.