Broncos signing veteran WR

Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Josh Reynolds.

After trotting out mostly the same wide receiver group for the past four seasons, the Broncos moved on from Jerry Jeudy to signal a shift under Sean Payton. They are now adding a key piece to Payton’s second Denver roster.

Josh Reynolds is signing with the Broncos, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who indicates the ex-Lions and Rams wideout agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $14M. The Ravens were also pursuing Reynolds, but he will join Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick and Marvin Mims Jr. in Denver.

The former Rams fourth-rounder transitioned from midseason waiver claim — on a Lions team in need of receiving help during Dan Campbell‘s first season — to regular starter.

As Detroit made its climb to the NFC North championship and the Super Bowl LVIII precipice, Reynolds operated as Amon-Ra St. Brown‘s top sidekick — even as Jameson Williams‘ role expanded. Reynolds finished last season with 40 catches for 608 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

Reynolds, 29, playing for Campbell could make a transition to Payton easier when considering the popular Lions HC spent five years as a Saints assistant.

This will, however, mark a transition from Jared Goff, Reynolds’ QB for most of his career. The Rams let Reynolds walk after his rookie deal expired, moving on despite the 6-foot-3 target’s career-high 618 receiving yards in 2020.

Los Angeles was carrying then-recent extensions for Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods at that point, and Reynolds signed with the Titans. That fit did not take, with the Lions claiming the Texas A&M alum following a November cut.

The Lions used Reynolds as a key St. Brown complement for two seasons, as an injury and a gambling suspension sidetracked Williams’ NFL start.

Even with Williams back in action following his six-game 2023 ban, Reynolds maintained a regular role. That said, he did not eclipse 45 receiving yards after Williams returned to action.

While operating mostly as a decoy, Reynolds did resurface with an 80-yard showing in the Lions’ wild-card win over the Rams. However, he dropped a crucial fourth-down pass in the Lions’ 34-31 loss to the 49ers two weeks later.

While the Reynolds contract’s base value is not yet known, this deal qualifies as more than a flier. It stands to crowd Denver’s receiver group, though Reynolds also represents insurance in case Patrick — who had ACL and Achilles tears in consecutive training camps — is unable to recapture his pre-Russell Wilson-era form.

Denver keeping Sutton on the roster as of March 18 guaranteed the seventh-year veteran $2M of his $13M 2024 base.

That would point to Denver’s 2023 receiving leader sticking around, but the Broncos dangled the former second-round pick in trades last year — nearly sending him to Baltimore — before turning to him as Wilson’s top target.

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