Jaylen Waddle has spent the first six Broncos practices doing what turned him into a problem in Miami: creating separation, making diving catches and turning short space into extra yards. In his first training camp with the Broncos, he has already flashed the speed and versatility that teammates say can change how the offense looks.
That early burst is why Waddle is being searched now. Brandon Jones, who saw him cross the 1,000-yard mark in each of their three seasons together from 2021 to 2023, said on Saturday that Waddle is exactly who he was in Miami and may even be a little faster. Jones said that felt impossible, then added that Waddle is a great teammate and a player who can line up anywhere, catch any ball and run any route.
The production behind that praise is real. During those three seasons together, Waddle averaged more than 80 catches and 1,100 yards, and the early returns in Denver have matched the reputation. Bo Nix called him an explosive playmaker and said he adds an extra element to the Broncos offense. Sean Payton went further on Wednesday, saying there are certain prototypes at every position and Waddle is one of the players who can walk on water. Payton added that there is a clear vision for him.
Waddle, for his part, did not claim all of the credit. When asked about his impact on the Broncos offense on Tuesday, he said it is not necessarily just him and pointed to the number of playmakers around him. That modesty sits alongside the reason he keeps standing out: during the first six practices, he repeatedly won separation, broke free after the catch and showed the speed that keeps defenders chasing.
There is also a harder edge to camp than any highlight reel shows. Waddle said he and Pat Surtain II have been getting after it and called Surtain the best in the league. He also said the Broncos defense is hard to get a yard on. That matchup is likely to keep sharpening both sides, and it is the most direct test yet of whether Waddle’s first impression in Denver can hold when the pressure tightens.
