Sean Payton isn’t mincing words when it comes to his wide receiver room - and after the way the Broncos’ season ended, it’s easy to understand why.
Following Denver’s 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, Payton pointed squarely at one of the team’s most persistent issues: dropped passes. “We dropped some passes,” he said postgame.
“Again, felt like that was a problem all year.” That wasn’t just a heat-of-the-moment comment.
Two days later, in his end-of-season press conference, Payton doubled down - and got specific about what he sees as a fundamental flaw in how his receivers are catching the football.
“I think that there's a proper way to catch a football,” he said. “Most of the time, it’s with your thumbs together, not the other way around.
The other way around, I’m serious, only exists when the ball is below your belly button. Even the deep balls should be caught with your thumbs together.
So we have to be better at that.”
That’s not just a technique critique - it’s a clear signal that Payton expects more from this unit. And just hours after those comments, the Broncos parted ways with wide receivers coach Keary Colbert.
The timing wasn’t subtle. Denver had the second-most drops in the NFL last season with 43 - an eye-popping number for a team that came within one game of the Super Bowl.
It’s not hard to connect the dots here. The Broncos’ receiving corps has been under the microscope for a while now, and Payton’s comments - paired with Colbert’s dismissal - suggest the team is ready to make serious changes.
And this isn’t a new concern. Denver has been quietly (and not-so-quietly) trying to upgrade the position over the past year.
Last offseason, the Broncos reportedly made a run at Stefon Diggs during free agency. At the trade deadline, they reached out to the Dolphins about Jaylen Waddle. And during the draft, they had their eyes on Ohio State standout Emeka Egbuka at pick No. 20 - only to see him go one spot earlier to Tampa Bay.
So while no major moves materialized in 2025, the intent was clearly there. Now, with more flexibility under the salary cap heading into 2026, the Broncos could finally be in position to land a true difference-maker at wide receiver - the kind of player who not only catches the ball but elevates the entire offense.
Payton knows what a high-functioning passing game looks like - and he’s not settling for anything less. The message is clear: If you’re going to be part of this offense, you better bring reliable hands and sound technique. Because the Broncos aren’t just looking to get back to the AFC title game - they’re looking to win it.