The Denver Broncos may have one of the most settled receiver rooms in the league heading into training camp, but that doesn’t mean the depth chart is locked in stone.
Jaylen Waddle, Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant and Marvin Mims Jr. all look like roster locks at wide receiver, barring an unexpected trade. Behind that group, Denver has veteran Lil’Jordan Humphrey and more experienced options such as Michael Bandy and Hakeem Butler. On paper, that leaves undrafted rookie Dane Key with a steep climb before the pads even come on.
But Key has already started making noise.
He put together a strong run of practices during OTAs, and that carried into mandatory minicamp. Luca Evans noted on June 17, 2026 that Key had stood out among the undrafted rookie receivers during Broncos minicamp, a sign worth keeping in mind as camp approaches.
#Broncos minicamp Day 1 takeaways:
-Jonah Coleman, Tyler Onyedim making real impressions
-New UFL signees: Fluid movement from 6-5 WR Hakeem Butler, PBU from Sean Fresch
-Jaylen Waddle grab over middle
-Matt Henningsen (!) tipped pick
-Dane Key has stood out from UDFA WRs, IMO
- Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) June 17, 2026
Key has been on the NFL radar for a while. At Kentucky, he was a top target for Will Levis and caught 37 passes for 519 yards and 6 touchdowns in his first college season in 2022. His production never turned explosive, but he was consistently dangerous downfield and brings a skill set that can catch a coaching staff’s attention.
At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Key checks a lot of boxes that matter beyond raw numbers. His late hands, route-running detail, ability to make tough catches in traffic and knack for finishing plays all give him a real chance to stick early in his career.
There’s also a family angle here. Key is now on the Broncos roster with his brother, All-Pro special teams ace Devon Key. Even if Dane doesn’t make the 53-man roster right away, that connection could matter when it comes to the practice squad, especially with the chance to work alongside and against his brother every day.
The challenge now is obvious: keep forcing Denver to make a tough call. Sean Payton has typically kept just five receivers, and that makes the road even narrower. Still, there’s always a chance the Broncos open up a sixth spot on the 53-man roster, whether to keep a player from hitting waivers or simply because someone earns it.
For a player who has already turned heads in OTAs and minicamp, that’s the opening Dane Key is chasing. If he keeps stacking strong practices once the pads go on, he could become one of the more interesting underdog stories on the roster.
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