Jaylen Waddle is getting the Broncos defense ready to take on the best in the league

Jaylen Waddle is known for his elite speed and his impressive ability to stop on a dime, and his addition to the Broncos is going to make this team significantly better in 2026. But his impact isn’t limited to what he’ll do catching passes from Bo Nix on Sundays.

Every day at training camp, Waddle is making Denver’s defense better too. Riley Moss took the podium after practice on Thursday and was asked what it’s like going up against Waddle in camp. His answer was immediate.

“It’s awesome,” the cornerback said.

Moss continued.

“We’re not gonna see anybody better, in terms of getting in and out of breaks and stuff. So when we go into a game and we’re going against the Ja’Marr Chase’s and guys like that, you know in the back of our mind we can say, ‘Hey, we’ve been going against a similar type of guy this entire year,'” he added.

That’s invaluable experience.

“It gives us the confidence that we’re going against the best,” Moss continued. “And it makes us better too.”

Moss has been one of the standout players at camp through the first week of practices, and the daily reps against Waddle are clearly paying dividends. Head coach Sean Payton has also taken notice, calling Moss’s play “fantastic” after day three.

Waddle and Moss aren’t the only ones benefiting from the competition. Waddle has been battling his former Alabama roommate and All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II throughout camp, and the two have been comparing notes during special teams periods to help each other improve.

“Me and Pat have been getting after it,” Waddle said. “That’s my boy, my dog. He’s the best in the league. Having that type of competitive spirit with a good friend is always good.”

Sean Payton spoke earlier in camp about what makes Waddle so special and why the exception was made for his size.

“There are certain prototypes at every position, and then there is that one where if they can walk on water. He’s one of those players relative to how he runs, how he stops and his competitive instincts. There is a clear vision for him.”

That vision is already playing out on both sides of the ball. Waddle is making Denver’s offense explosive. And by giving Surtain, Moss, Ja’Quan McMillian, and the rest of the secondary an elite receiver to sharpen their skills against every single day, he’s making this defense even more dangerous.

When September arrives and Denver’s corners line up against the NFL’s best, they won’t flinch. They’ve already been tested by one of the best in their own building.

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