Reggie Wayne is still in free agency, and there is a chance that he will decide to retire from the NFL rather than sign with a new team for the 2015 season. Even though that is a possibility, he would likely jump at the chance to play for one more season if the right team and opportunity came up. There is one team that he would likely love to sign with, and that team is the Denver Broncos.
Reuniting with Peyton Manning for one more season would be incredibly special for the former star receiver. He had the best years of his career playing with Manning as his quarterback, and finishing his career with one more season alongside of him would be a perfect ending.
During the 2014 season with the Indianapolis Colts, Wayne ended up catching 64 passes for 779 yards and two touchdowns.
Those numbers alone prove that he is still capable of putting up solid numbers. Denver already has both Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders on their roster, but they allowed Wes Welker to leave in free agency. There is a chance that they will be happy with second-year receiver Cody Latimer stepping into the third receiver role, but Wayne would definitely be much more consistent.
Bringing in a receiver with the experience and leadership that Wayne possesses would be a nice move as Denver looks to make one more run at a Super Bowl win. John Elway understands that Manning only has one or two seasons left in the NFL at the most, and they need to bring in as many weapons for him as they can. Manning has always been used to having dynamic threats at nearly every position in his offenses.
At 36 years old, Wayne would likely bring the type of talent that could put the Broncos’ offense over the top. He has always been one of the best route runners in the NFL, and he isn’t afraid of making plays over the middle.
Both Thomas and Sanders are more dynamic receivers that prefer to make plays down the field. Manning has always needed a legitimate possession receiver, and Latimer isn’t ready to be that guy for him. Denver would be bringing in the biggest need that they have offensively if they signed Wayne, and it likely wouldn’t take an expensive contract to bring him on board.
Making these types of moves are exactly the type of acquisitions that championship caliber teams make in order to win Super Bowls.
It may not seem like the Broncos necessarily “need” Wayne to play up to their full potential, but halfway through the season they may look back and wish they made the move for him. Passing up on a talent like Wayne is the type of move that teams can never pass up on.
Wayne is without question the best receiver on the market, and is still capable of being a difference maker for whoever scoops him up. Denver could use some more depth at the position, and it would be just another move to help secure a playoff position. They will have to improve a bit from last season with the improvements that the Colts especially have made, but they are still a very good all-around football team that is more than capable of coming out on top in the AFC.
All of that being said, the Broncos are the one team that could convince Wayne to come back without much thought involved. He wants to compete for another Super Bowl, but he wants to feel comfortable and be in the right situation. Leaving Indianapolis and playing for another franchise won’t be easy for him, but having a friend there in Manning would make the decision much easier.
