Broncos predicted to target Colts' 5,000-yard, 25-TD wide receiver in offseason trade

After coming so close to reaching Super Bowl LX, the Denver Broncos‘ main objective this offseason should be to load up on the offensive side of the ball in order to make a run again next year.

The team needs to look at premium options at both running back and wide receiver in free agency and the draft. With Russell Wilson’s contract officially off the books with the start of the new league year, the team should be able to shop around for some more talent.

Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report took a look at players each team in the league should target in trades this offseason and he came up with some interesting names for the Broncos.

Michael Pittman, Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts
Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
Michael Mayer, TE, Las Vegas Raiders

Here were Ballentine’s thoughts on each of these moves:

“Sean Payton’s team came up just short of a Super Bowl berth so there’s incentive to make the kind of move to get them over the top. Making an enticing offer to the Colts for Michael Pittman Jr. would certainly qualify.

Pittman Jr. was eclipsed by Alec Pierce as the No. 1 option in Indianapolis this season. Now Pierce is headed toward free agency and the Colts could clear $24 million in cap space by trading him.

Evan Engram will be 32 in September and wasn’t as productive as Denver needed him to be. Targeting a younger tight end like Michael Mayer could be a cost-effective way of getting better at the position long-term.

Mayer’s production doesn’t jump off the page either, but he’s entering the final year of his rookie deal. Being stuck behind Brock Bowers doesn’t help and he could take on a larger role in Denver.

The Saints could be looking to offload Alvin Kamara’s contract. It’s hard to justify his full $18.6 million cap hit as he turns 31 in July. New Orleans can shave $3.4 million in caps space if they trade him before June 1. It would be $11.5 million if they trade him after.

Of course, Sean Payton is very familiar with Kamara and what he can do. He could potentially get one more season out of him as a sidekick to RJ Harvey in 2026.”

Broncos predicted to target Michael Pittman, Alvin Kamara in trade

Michael Pittman is an interesting name for the team to consider. The former second-round pick has caught 485 passes in his career for 5,254 yards and 25 touchdowns. But he wouldn’t be a No. 1 option on several teams in the league right now and that is the situation the Broncos already have with Courtland Sutton. Getting a dynamic No.1 guy needs to be considered over getting another pedestrian No. 2.

Another Colts wide receiver, Alec Pierce, is set to become an unrestricted free agent and would be a more exciting player for the team to pursue.

The connection between the Broncos and Alvin Kamara will likely continue to be made as long as the veteran running back is still in the league. Putting the New Orleans Saints star in Denver makes sense due to the fact that he once played under Sean Payton, but it seems too little, too late for this move.

Michael Mayer is an intriguing choice, however. While he’s easily the least-known player on this list, he might have the most upside in terms of potential Broncos in this discussion.

Taken in the second round in 2023, Mayer appeared to be one of the top future options for the Raiders until they took Brock Bowers in the first round the following year. But at only 24 years old (25 in July), he has plenty of football ahead of him and could easily be a productive player if not having to work behind Bowers, arguably the best tight end in the league.

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The Broncos could add him as insurance for an aging Evan Engram. That’s a move that would make all the sense in the world, depending on what the Broncos would have to give up. Mayer is coming off a 35-catch season and offers plenty of future upside.

Broncos predicted to target Colts’ 5,000-yard, 25-TD wide receiver in offseason trade

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