Clayton: Latest PFF rankings shows why Rodgers likes the Broncos

Aaron Rodgers must have had a little giggle as he enjoys his vacation in Hawaii.

Pro Football Focus released their pass-receiving corps ratings on Thursday. The Packers came in at No. 14.

Much of that was Davante Adams being one of PFF’s best receivers. The emergence of tight end Robert Tonyan gave them a boost.

The Broncos appear to be the team of choice if there is a trade. PFF rated the Broncos No. 6.

The amazing part of that rating was that the Broncos were graded No. 30 at the end of last season. What’s changed?

Much of last year’s number had to do with Courtland Sutton blowing out his ACL. He only had 31 snaps in all of 2020.

Jerry Jeudy was in his first year and PFF counted 12 drops on catchable balls. Still, PFF really likes him as a playmaker. K.J. Hamler struggled with seven drops on catchable passes, as well.

But you can see what PFF and Rodgers would like about Denver.

Jeudy should settle into being a very good receiver this year. Sutton will be back. PFF thinks Tim Patrick is one of the most-underrated receivers in the league.

PFF also likes the speed of tight end Noah Fant, thinking he’s one of the fastest at his position in the league. He graded out as their sixth best tight end.

Overall, PFF thinks the Broncos may have the best four-receiver group in football. Adding that with a good tight end, Rodgers could be going to a much more talented group than he had in Green Bay.

What could that mean if there is a trade? Good things could be ahead for the Broncos.

Go back to last year. Tom Brady was starved for receiving talent for a couple years. He started thinking about leaving New England more a year before he departed. He studied the Buccaneers and realized that he was getting the best pass-catching groups he’s been around. The result was a Super Bowl victory.

According to PFF, the Bucs are No. 1 as a group this season. Dallas is No. 2, Kansas City is No.3, Buffalo is No. 4 and Minnesota is No. 5.

The Chiefs are favored to go to the Super Bowl, but the Broncos pass-catchers may help them close some of the gap in the AFC West. It’s a group that has to be enticing to a quarterback.

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