The Broncos got the star power they so craved.
Broncos fans, rejoice — enter wide receiver, Jaylen Waddle.
Denver has made its first big splash of the offseason, sacrificing a first-, third- and fourth-round pick in this year’s draft for Waddle and a fourth-round pick. As a result, they have now moved a step closer to getting back to the AFC Championship game.
Waddle has been a fantastic receiver during his NFL career, putting up three 1,000-yard seasons and consistently ranking near the top of the league in yards per catch. Don’t be mistaken, this trade benefits the Broncos wholeheartedly, but with more star power comes more potential issues.
This Waddle trade could potentially shake up the Broncos’ clubhouse.
Does Adding Waddle Create Conflict in Mile High City?
Marvin Mims has spent the first three seasons of his NFL career with the Denver Broncos. He has impacted the game any way he can, whether it’s as a kick returner or a deep-threat receiver. He’s worked his way up through the Broncos system and earned the respect of Denver’s coaching staff and front office.
Questions arise about Mims’ role with the addition of Waddle.
“Yeah, a little bit,” Mims said when an Altitude TV host asked him if he’s thought about what the trade means for his role. “It’s interesting to see how I fit in the offense, but at the end of the day, for me, the past few years, the thing I’ve taken pride in is being able to play running back, be a returner, be a receiver.”
While Mims is happy with any feature within the team he may step into, there’s no doubt that he may have some separate thoughts regarding the trade for Waddle. He’s been with this organization his entire career. Now his role is almost certainly going to change with Waddle joining the squad. This is something certain players do have issues with.
Egos Must Be Put Aside
Denver’s offense is going to benefit from the deal, and Mims will still make a big impact on the team next year. With that said though, small quotes and moments like these can often lead to bigger issues down the road.
Take the 2010’s Steelers for example. These teams featured an overwhelming offense year after year, with All-Pros like Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. But they were never able to truly put together a deep playoff run.
Since those days, plenty of reports have come out about locker room issues with those teams. While the talent may look unbeatable on paper, nothing is more important than being close with your teammates and the people you show up with to practice every day. Chemistry is an extremely underrated factor not just in football, but in every other team sport on the planet.
It’s not just those Steeler teams, though. There’s been plenty of other similar instances where a roster has a clear shot at a Super Bowl run. However, it never pans out because of something going on behind closed doors. Denver’s coaching staff has to act quickly come training camp. They need to make sure their guys are together as one group and ready to tackle the season together.
Broncos Must Proceed With Caution
The Broncos are a young team as well. That immaturity can be detrimental to a contending roster, especially if the team hits a tough stretch. If there’s no true veteran leader to step up into a leadership role, that can set them further back. Watch out for guys like Bo Nix and Nik Bonitto to really take a leap in maturity next year, which could ultimately benefit their game tenfold.
It’s a different dynamic, especially with the amount of star power that the Broncos now have on their roster. New faces are going to have to step up and be leaders, along with players having to put aside their egos. The Waddle trade is a huge plus for the city of Denver, and certainly something the fans should be excited about — but they should also be conscious about the potential drawbacks that come with it.
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