With Broncos’ addition of Waddle, is there still room for Marvin Mims Jr. in the mix beyond this year?

Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. is already in his contract year after three seasons, two Pro Bowl selections and a first-team All-Pro nod for his work as a punt returner.

The process happens fast. And with Jaylen Waddle aboard and Courtland Sutton still around, Mims sits in a fascinating spot in terms of his long-term future.

If contract decisions were simply about whether the team wanted the player back, Mims having a contract extension beyond 2026 might be a fait accompli. On returns, he’s among the elite, a true threat to go the distance every time the football lands in his hands. One has to go back to the brief salad days of Trindon Holliday for the last time Denver had that, and Mims is explosive without carrying the same ball-security issues as the diminutive member of the 2013 AFC Championship team.

But it’s not that simple. The Broncos can certainly offer Mims a deal, but he has to accept it. Giving him the franchise tag next offseason isn’t realistic, not with Sutton and Waddle projected to gobble up a combined $55 million of cap space. And Mims has new representation, changing his agency to Athletes First earlier this month.

“I don’t know what can happen; we’ll see within the next year,” Mims said in May.

“But I know one thing: I want to enjoy being a Denver Bronco for as long as I can. I’m not really thinking about what’s next, mostly just having my feet in the moment.”

 

View on Threads

 

BRONCOS STILL WORKING TO GET MIMS MORE TOUCHES, SAYS PAYTON

In Mims’ time with the Broncos — which parallels that of coach Sean Payton, as the Oklahoma product was the team’s first draft pick after he became Broncos head coach in 2023 — Payton has often noted that the team needs to find ways to get him the ball.

It was a point Payton reiterated earlier this month.

“I feel like each week when we go in to game planning, we’re always talking about certain things, and his name, I know, comes up from me,” Payton said.

“Every time we continue to ask him down the field, give him these opportunities, he takes advantage of it. He’s been very consistent. It’s just a matter of getting those touches. But very important games, even [against] Buffalo — I could point to a number of games. It’s a good problem to have, but he’s doing well.”

Until last January’s AFC Championship Game, the more Mims accumulated on offense, the more productive the Broncos were. And even with their seven-point output in the snow in that most-recent game — when he had 62 yards on four receptions — the Broncos still average 27 points a game when Mims has at least 60 receiving yards, compared with 21.8 in all other games.

The question now is this: How much room will there be for his involvement in the offense? And if it’s limited, does that mean there’s no offer the Broncos could give him that would be enough to bring him back after this season?

Related

Broncos will begin training camp with two players on reserve listsMahomes cleared for training camp, remains on course for Broncos-Chiefs season openerMaking the case for trading Troy Franklin instead of Marvin MimsJonathon Cooper now has arraignment date set for end of AugustBroncos set to play the long game with developing fourth-round pick Kage CaseyReport: Jonathon Cooper completes counseling and mental health program