Broncos training camp focus shifts to the “third option” in the passing game

As Denver’s training camp continues to build toward the 2026 regular season, the Broncos are emphasizing what their aerial attack can look like at full speed. In that framework, Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle are being treated as the core pair in the receiving rotation. The question that remains, and one that will determine how quickly the passing game gels, is which wide receiver emerges as the third option to round out the plan.

The “third target share” issue matters because the Broncos, like most NFL teams, need more than just two reliable routes to keep coverage honest. Even when a team has a clear No. 1 and a complementary No. 2, defenses can concentrate effort on the most obvious threats. A productive third option gives the quarterback a consistent answer on third downs, on second-and-long, and late in games when matchups tighten.

Sutton and Waddle being positioned as a dynamic duo sets the tone for how Denver expects the offense to operate. With those two viewed as the primary receiving identities, the remaining role becomes less about who has the biggest highlight plays and more about who can be trusted across different game scripts. The player who earns that spot typically shows the ability to earn targets while the defense is already prepared for the top pair.

In camp, that kind of role is often tested through route-running timing, sit-and-understanding reads, and how receivers fit into the passing concepts the coaching staff wants to standardize early. The third option is also frequently defined by versatility, meaning a receiver can contribute on different downs and in different personnel groupings, not just in one matchup-driven package.

Denver’s competition at wide receiver is therefore best understood as a rotation question. The Broncos do not necessarily need a single “make-or-break” receiver so much as they need a reliable complement to the Sutton-Waddle core, someone who can sustain drive-ending production and keep defenses from collapsing onto the same areas of the field. The training-camp reps will shape that pecking order, and the early pre-season look will often clarify who is separating themselves.

One reason this battle is likely to draw attention is that wide receiver depth can affect how quickly a quarterback and offensive system develop consistent timing. When the third receiver is settled, the offense can become more predictable in its protections, more consistent in spacing, and more confident in quick answers when plays break down.