The Denver Broncos’ offseason began with coach Sean Payton immediately emphasizing his search for a “joker,” a versatile player who can play both as a runner and receiver. This hybrid player can break tackles after the catch and is used in different formations. Payton talks often about the joker position and its importance to his offense.
However, Payton has not had a player like that in his first two seasons with the Broncos, despite being used to such players during his 15 years in New Orleans.
“I know how much it can help. … I didn’t really appreciate it at the time,” Payton said. “We went through a stretch of 15 or 16 seasons with real, real high-end offenses that maybe didn’t have a receiver get to a Pro Bowl, but those other spots did.”
Payton traces the joker position back to his time as an assistant coach and playcaller with the Giants and Cowboys, where he had tight ends Jeremy Shockey and Jason Witten. In New Orleans, the joker took many forms, from tight ends like Shockey and Jimmy Graham to running backs such as Darren Sproles, Reggie Bush, and Alvin Kamara.
In each case, the joker was a dynamic player who could do many different things and was especially important on third downs and against tougher defenses. Payton is hoping to improve the Broncos in these areas.
This season, the Broncos had the third-most three-and-out possessions (26.3%). They were 13th in third-down conversions and 17th in third-and-medium conversions (4-6 yards). Denver struggled against AFC playoff teams, averaging just 16.9 points per game and failing to score more than 16 points in five of seven games, including just one touchdown against the Bills in the 31-7 wild-card loss on January 12.
“We definitely have to score more than seven points in these tough games,” rookie quarterback Bo Nix said. “We went to Baltimore and only scored 10, scored seven [against the Bills]. So there are certain things where it all comes down to execution and scoring more points.”
The Broncos tried to create joker-like plays by involving running backs in the passing game. Javonte Williams finished second on the team with 52 receptions, while Jaleel McLaughlin had 24. However, they only combined for two receiving touchdowns and averaged less than seven yards per catch (6.7 for Williams and 3.2 for McLaughlin).
Limited tight-end productions
Lucas Krull led the group with 19 catches, but the tight ends had seven games without a 10-yard reception.
“I think in our league when you look around … you’ll always remember [tight end Travis] Kelce with the Chiefs, I don’t know that you’ll remember the receivers sometimes,” Payton said. “Do I think we have some candidates [to be a joker]? Yes. That inner triangle of attacking a defense is really important.”
Payton had hoped tight end Greg Dulcich, a third-round pick in 2022, could be that player who could attack defenses and challenge linebackers and safeties in coverage. However, Dulcich struggled with hamstring injuries and was inactive for eight games this season before being waived on November 25. He’s now with the Giants.
Wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. is the closest player on the Broncos’ roster to the joker role Payton desires. Mims, who was named an All-Pro as a returner, began lining up in the backfield more as the season went on and had two 100-yard receiving games in the last month. He averaged more than 20 yards per catch in three of the final six regular-season games.
But Mims, at 5-foot-11 and 182 pounds, doesn’t have the size or the tackle-breaking ability in traffic that Payton typically looks for in a joker.
This means the Broncos may look to the draft to find a joker who can help Nix, who had 29 passing touchdowns, the second-most ever by a rookie quarterback.
Tight ends like Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Michigan’s Colston Loveland could be targets for Denver at pick No. 20. They may also consider running backs with strong receiving skills, like Kansas’ Devin Neal or Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo, later in the draft.
“We’ll go through that process, and we’ll look closely at what we think we still need, what we have to have and then what we want to have,” Payton said. “That only comes after evaluating our own roster. We’re just not there yet.”
