The Broncos agreed Wednesday to re-sign Lil’Jordan Humphrey, but it remains to be seen where he will end up in the pecking order at wide receiver.

A source said Humphrey, who was Denver’s No. 5 receiver last season, got a one-year deal for the minimum of $1.125 million.

With the NFL’s new league year beginning Wednesday, the Broncos trade of wide receiver Jerry Jeudy to Cleveland for fifth- and sixth-round draft picks became official. But there are still possible moving parts at receiver, including what Denver might do with Courtland Sutton.

Sutton, who led the Broncos in 2023 with 59 receptions, 772 yards and 10 touchdowns, is on the books in 2024 for a nonguaranteed salary of $13 million but $2 million of it would become guaranteed if he is still on the roster Sunday. So the Broncos this week must decide whether to keep Sutton on the roster as is, renegotiate his contract, trade him or release him.

Sutton was Denver’s No. 1 receiver last season while Jeudy was No. 2. But Jeudy, in a trade that was agreed to last Saturday, has gone to the Browns for the No. 136 pick in the fifth round and No. 203 selection in the sixth round.

“I had heard that the Browns were interested in me even two years ago,” Jeudy said in a release. “To hear that, and then be here now is exciting. It’s surreal. I feel like I am wanted, and the team has really made me feel welcomed. … I think I will fit in with them.”

Humphrey rejoins a Broncos receiver room that also includes Tim Patrick, Marvin Mims Jr., Brandon Johnson, Jalen Virgil, Michael Bandy, David Sills and Phillip Dorsett. Patrick is back on a restructured contract after missing the past two seasons with injuries. A source said last month that Virgil is fully healthy after missing all of last season due to a knee injury.

Humphrey, a five-year veteran, caught 13 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns while playing in all 17 games in his first Denver season of 2023. It was his fourth season playing for Sean Payton, who also was his head coach with New Orleans from 2019-21.

“He’s very excited,’’ Humphrey’s agent, James Gould, said of Humphrey agreeing to terms. “(Humphrey) has complete faith in Coach Payton. He really avoided the open market. He loves the team.”

Humphrey flew to Denver on Wednesday to take a physical and then sign his contract.

Re-signed Burton ‘thankful’ and ‘excited’

Not a lot of teams still carry a fullback. Michael Burton is grateful the Broncos still do.

The Broncos on Wednesday officially re-signed Burton to a one-year contract after he had agreed Tuesday to the deal.

“I’m very blessed, very thankful,” Burton told The Denver Gazette. “This is where I want to be and I’m excited to get back to work.”

Payton is entering his 17th season as an NFL head coach, the first 15 with New Orleans. And he always has carried a fullback on the roster.

“He uses two-back personnel in his offense and those type of things,” said Burton, a nine-year veteran who had played for Payton with the Saints in 2020 before rejoining him last season. “I’m excited to have that opportunity to demonstrate that I can be effective.”

Burton certainly was effective with the Broncos in 2023 while making $1.317 million. While playing 17.6% of the snaps, he was rated as the No. 1 fullback in the NFL by Pro Football Focus. 

Burton had told The Denver Gazette in January he wanted to re-sign with the Broncos and they didn’t waver in wanting him back. He called it a seamless negotiation.

“It was,” he said. “They have a great personnel department. They have great coaches and I highly respect all of them. It was a smooth transition and something I wanted to get done quicker rather than later. I can’t express enough how thankful I am.”

The Broncos on Wednesday also officially signed tight end Adam Trautman, who had agreed to a two-year deal Tuesday.

The Broncos did not officially announce the signings of free-agent safety Brandon Jones, who agreed Monday to a three-year, $20 million deal Monday after playing four years with Miami, and free-agent nose tackle Malcolm Roach, who agreed Tuesday to a two-year, $8 million deal after spending the past four seasons with New Orleans.

Both players need to pass physicals before officially signing. Roach, who played his first two NFL seasons with the Saints under Payton, flew Wednesday to Denver.

Purcell waits in free agency

Indications are the Broncos aren’t immediately looking to bring back free-agent defensive lineman Mike Purcell but could have interest in him down the road if he remains available.

Purcell, a native of the Denver area who played the past five seasons for the Broncos, became a free agent Wednesday. Purcell, who turns 33 on April 20, said after last season that he hoped to finish his career with Denver.

Purcell played in 16 games last season, starting 10. Not helping Purcell’s cause was the Broncos having beefed up the defensive line this week with the agreement to sign Roach.

Denver players from last season to also officially become free agents Wednesday were tackle Cam Fleming, cornerback Fabian Moreau, defensive lineman Jonathan Harris, linebackers Justin Strnad and Ben Niemann, running back Dwayne Washington and cornerback K’Waun Williams. A source has told The Denver Gazette that Williams won’t be re-signed.