The Denver Broncos added as many options to the wide receiver position as they could following the 2025 NFL Draft, where they used a third-round pick on Pay Bryant. After the draft, the team signed four wide receivers as undrafted free agents.
For one of those players, Courtney Jackson, his ability to make an impact on special teams is likely his ticket to playing at the professional level.
Denver Broncos Undrafted Free Agent Spotlight
Name: Courtney Jackson
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 183
Position: Wide receiver
School: Arkansas State
Jackson's college playing career began at Syracuse. In four seasons there, he caught 63 passes for 662 yards and four touchdowns. But after the 2022 season, he saw a better opportunity for himself and transferred to Arkansas State with his remaining eligibility.
In two seasons with the Red Wolves, Jackson 81 passes for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns. But it's his ability as a return specialist that the Broncos should tap into this summer.
Jackson returned six punts in 2021 for the Orange. In addition to averaging 18.3 yards per return, he brought one of those back for a touchdown. At Arkansas State, Jackson's opportunities became more frequent as a punt returner and he had 31 returns, averaging 14.1 yards per return and scoring three touchdowns.
Last season, he averaged 18.5 yards per return and returned two punts for touchdowns. His 277 punt return yards ranked seventh in the country.
In this interview, Jackson attributes his success on special teams to getting him a shot in the NFL.
"Yeah, yeah definitely, that's really my foot in the door. I wasn't like, you know, a super duper productive guy offensively but, I mean, special teams, I'm practically the best in the country at that so I think that's gonna get me in the door", said Jackson.
Chances of making final 53-man roster (1-10 scale): 1.5
Jackson is not going to make this team as a wide receiver, there's just too much talent in front of him. But if the Broncos don't want to have Marvin Mims Jr. out returning punts in order to help preserve his health as he has become a bigger part of the offense, then the door could be open a crack for a guy like Jackson.
With only 53 spots on the roster, it's hard to justify keeping a return specialist unless they are just incredible in that role, so Jackson will have his work cut out for him. But finding a spot on the practice squad where he could be elevated on gamedays in spots where the team could see a big punt return or two helping to flip a game, he could be useful.
It will be interesting to see if the Broncos place Jackson in the role of punt returner this summer and if he can translate the success he had doing it in college to the NFL.
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