A.T. Perry is a name to watch at wide receiver for Broncos

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — It was no surprise when the Denver Broncos signed A.T. Perry to a reserve-future contract earlier this month. The team signed 13 of its 17 practice-squad players to deals one day after its season ended in Buffalo, emphasizing its younger talent among those it chose to retain.

But Perry is perhaps the most intriguing prospect on the list. Because among the Broncos’ quartet of receivers to break into the NFL out of the 2023 and 2024 NFL Drafts, only All-Pro returner Marvin Mims Jr. has more touchdown catches than Perry — who scored four times in just 12 receptions for the New Orleans Saints as a rookie. Neither Troy Franklin nor Devaughn Vele matched Perry’s rookie touchdown tally.

The 6-foot-5 Perry fits neatly into Sean Payton’s preferred template of long wide receivers with wingspan. And in New Orleans, he played in Payton’s scheme, then run by Pete Carmichael, who succeeded Payton as Saints playcaller in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. When the Saints fired Carmichael, that halted Perry’s progress.

So, when New Orleans decided to try and slip Perry through to the practice squad after deactivating him for the first month of the 2024 regular season, he balked at returning. Carmichael put in some good words for his former prospect, and Perry landed on Denver’s practice squad with a chance to reset in a scheme that suited him.

“It’s just about just remembering certain calls, stuff like that,” Perry said. “It’s all come together, just with the months I’ve been here, I’ve kind of picked up on a lot, so that’s a great thing for me.”

And that’s a far cry from where he stood in September — on the sidelines, frustrated as his opportunities vanished under new offensive coaching. The final months in New Orleans soured Perry on the game and the business of it. In Denver, his affection was rekindled.

“Started loving football more since I came over here, so, it’s been good,” Perry said.

And Payton was a massive reason why.

“He talks to me in practice every day. He always comes up to me, gives me a fist bump, stuff like that. He did tell me he has a plan. God has a plan. So, that made me believe,” Perry said. “… Him and I, we talk almost every day, just whether it’s about football, life. He asks me about my kids and stuff like that, too.”

Early on, Payton laid out that vision.

“When I got here, I didn’t know what my role was or what to be expected. Him and I had that conversation,” Perry said. “From then on, it’s just been elevating my game, just trying to find a way to get better in practice, going against Pat [Surtain], Riley [Moss], ‘Mac’ [Ja’Quan McMillian], just all of them. Just making myself better and making them better, too.

And now Perry finds himself in a crucial offseason. As one of the afore-mentioned four players from the most recent draft classes, he still qualifies as a young player with upside. But the Broncos might add to the wide-receiver room, creating a squeeze.

If two players among the Franklin/Mims/Perry/Vele quartet flourish long-term, the Broncos will be thrilled. But Perry has as good a chance as any. Payton’s investment of time and interest in him is one reason why. Another is how the Broncos used him in practice — which was not strictly as a scout-team player.

“Just getting reps out with the ones, a few periods, few plays and stuff like that,” Perry said.

It’s an action that speaks louder than words. In the midst of a playoff-bound season, player development continued — and Perry got a chance to work with Bo Nix and the No. 1 offense. Those snaps could go far toward making him ready for an offseason push.

And in a few months …

“Come back for minicamp and show what I can do,” Perry said.

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