The Broncos may look settled at receiver on paper, but training camp has a way of blowing up tidy depth charts. And for Denver, undrafted rookie Dane Key could be the name that turns a supposedly quiet position battle into something much bigger.
That’s because the Broncos have a recent habit of making at least one eyebrow-raising move at wideout under Sean Payton. Before the 2023 season, they cut former 2nd-round pick KJ Hamler before the final year of his rookie deal was up.
Then came the 2024 offseason, when Denver traded Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns. In 2025, the surprise was even sharper: the Broncos sent Devaughn Vele to the New Orleans Saints after he had a breakthrough rookie season in 2024.
And last year, they also cut a healthy Tim Patrick after a strong camp and preseason.
So even with everyone from last year’s receiver group returning in 2026 and the team’s biggest move of the offseason being the Jaylen Waddle trade, it would be a mistake to assume the room is locked in. Sean Payton has shown he’s willing to shake things up, and George Paton has been part of that pattern too.
Key is the kind of sleeper who could make that conversation harder to ignore. He spent this past season at Nebraska, but he first made his name at Kentucky as one of Will Levis’s top targets. This offseason, he’s even been working with Levis again at Kentucky as he gets ready for the upcoming season.
What makes Key especially interesting is how he fits Denver’s profile. He’s 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, a big-bodied target that Payton tends to like. He also showed well in contested-catch situations in college, and that carried over to rookie minicamp and OTAs, where he stood out, according to those who were there.
There’s another layer here too: Key is the brother of Broncos All-Pro special teams ace Devon Key. That doesn’t guarantee anything, but it does give the story another angle.
More importantly, it may matter on the field. Like his brother, Dane Key will likely need to contribute on special teams if he wants to stick on the 53-man roster.
That could be where he separates himself. Trent Sherfield was the only receiver on the roster besides Marvin Mims Jr. to play meaningful special teams snaps in 2025, and Sherfield was cut during the season anyway.
Troy Franklin doesn’t play special teams. Lil’Jordan Humphrey doesn’t play special teams.
If Key keeps making plays as a receiver and adds value in the kicking game, he can force Denver to seriously weigh its options.
That’s where the real intrigue starts. Should the Broncos consider trading a receiver like Troy Franklin, or should they keep six receivers on the 53?
However it shakes out, camp should be worth watching. The Broncos finally have real depth at receiver, and Key’s size, skill set and special teams path give him a legitimate chance to push the established names and make the room a lot more interesting.
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