The Denver Broncos have had a pleasant surprise at wide receiver this summer.
The Broncos signed wide receiver Trent Sherfield, a special teams ace, in March. The 29-year-old veteran spent time with five NFL teams before landing in Denver, and he was best known for his special teams contributions and blocking on offense, only hauling in eight receptions for 83 yards and one touchdown with the Minnesota Vikings last fall. But he has proven this summer that he’s more than capable of making plays when given opportunities.
“He’s physical as a blocker and he can run,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said after a 30-9 preseason win over the San Francisco 49ers last week. “And there was a time in New Orleans when we had a variety of receiver combinations, but Devery Henderson, Robert Meacham were guys that could run and block. And so you can look at that and say, well, they’re going to run the ball when they’re in there. And then it came off of heavy play action, and there were a lot of shot plays. So, the vision for him was obviously receiver five, four core special team.
“He’s physical in the run game and he can run. So, there’s a lot you can do with that, if that makes sense. And, and I think when you get a free agent, you’re more into tune maybe with a draft pick, but there are some things maybe that he even surprises you with. And I think he’s had a good camp. He’s a very serious player, very focused player, intentional, would be a good word to describe how he approaches the game, and that role is clear then. There’s a lot you can do with that.”
Sherfield is a willing special teams player, but he’s not a one-trick player.
“When it comes to my career, I’ve always been sneaking through the back door as far as special teams go,” Sherfield said. “Started out in Arizona, obviously had a quick stop in San Francisco and have been to a few other places. During this free agency, I’ve always wanted to make sure that I pride myself on being a two-way player. I keep on saying that, but it’s something that I truly believe in. Obviously, when you have [special teams coordinator] Coach [Darren] Rizzi and Sean Payton, who is the head coach and play caller here, I just really wanted to make sure the place I went to could cater to both.
“Again, I take pride in run blocks, running routes and making plays. It’s the same exact thing in making sure I’m going down and covering kicks and downing the punt inside the five [yard line], which is just as important. Both of those phases—you can’t win without one phase in the game; you need offense, defense, and special teams to win the game. Whatever my role is, I will be the best at it.”
Sherfield (6-1, 206 pounds) hauled in a beautiful 36-yard touchdown catch against the 49ers and finished the game with three receptions for a team-high 73 yards. It sounds like Payton already had a clear vision for Sherfield in Denver’s offense, and fans are now seeing a potential preview of that role in preseason.
“He’s been a great surprise, a great addition for us as a whole,” quarterback Bo Nix said. “He adds an element of physicality and experience. We have a young receiver room, so he adds that element that he has been there, done that, seen a lot of football. He made an incredible play [Saturday], actually several plays [Saturday] and then finished it off with the touchdown.
“So he’s just steady eddy. He goes over there and does what he’s supposed to do, and he makes the catch. He makes it look easy and that’s what is going to be good because he’s going to be a physical guy. He can go in there and block, and he is also going to make plays catching the ball. That’s obviously what you want as a receiver. You want to see the guy go out there and make catches and he’s done a really good job of that.”
It appears that Denver’s wide receiver room is set to feature Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin, Sherfield, Devaughn Vele and Pat Bryant this season. Sherfield will undoubtedly be an important special teams player for the Broncos in 2025, but it’s becoming clear that he’ll also have a role on offense.
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