The Denver Broncos made yet another re-signing, with Lil'Jordan Humphrey returning to the fold in a solid depth move.
The Denver Broncos have a solid receiving room, but that didn’t prevent the Broncos from re-signing veteran Lil’Jordan Humphrey to a one-year deal for the league minimum of $1.3 million, according to a report from Luca Evans of the Denver Post.
The Broncos entered free agency with a total of 17 free agents, according to Evans, and Humphrey is now one of 12 to be re-signed. He’s also another long-time favorite of coach Sean Payton, so that’s the biggest common thread in these ongoing moves.
Humphrey started last season with the New York Giants, but things didn’t pan out. He had some strong moments with the Giants, but he eventually ended up back with the Broncos.
“We know the player really well,” Payton said after Humphrey was back on the roster last fall. “One of his strengths is his football I.Q. He can play a lot of different spots and I think it was we had that roster availability. … You know exactly what you’re getting from him and that’s a real good trait to have as a player. Then you can put him in these places where he could excel.
“It was unusual seeing him on the opponent’s sideline (against the Giants), but we’re glad to have him back.”
Humphrey is a spot player who saw action in seven regular season games, catching nine passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. He played a slightly more prominent role in the postseason, especially during Denver’s 33-30 OT win against the Bills, when he dropped a potential TD pass early but redeemed himself late in the game and caught another pass for a touchdown.
Humphrey also gives Denver some size at receiver, which is currently a bit of an issue. Courtland Sutton is the team’s possession receiver, and he has the size and length to be a red-zone threat. That’s not necessarily the case for receivers Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant and Marvin Mims Jr., although all three had good stats that indicate that they’re on the ascent.
That’s where the controversy enters the picture. Some fans and experts would like to see the Broncos add another fast receiver with size to complete the array of weapons, but Payton is expected to lean into a receiving add at tight end, where Evan Engram didn’t provide anywhere near the level of production the coach expected.
There should be clarity coming now that the re-signings are nearly completed, and it will be interesting to see where Payton goes to get the playmaker the Broncos definitely need.