$6 Million Free Agent Named ‘Biggest Winner’ for Broncos in Preseason
The Denver Broncos knew they were getting a special teams ace and added depth in their wide receivers room when they signed Trent Sherfield to a 2-year, $6 million free agent contract — with a heavy emphasis on the special teams part.
What Sherfield showed the Broncos and head coach Sean Payton during the preseason not only cemented his spot on the 53-man roster but has shown he’s capable of much more than covering kicks and punts.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox singled Sherfield out as the Broncos’ biggest winner following final roster cutdowns on August 26.
“The Denver Broncos continue to shuffle their receiving corps in order to get the most out of quarterback Bo Nix,” Knox wrote. “One of this year’s biggest beneficiaries might be wideout Trent Sherfield Sr. A 2018 undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt, Sherfield bounced around the NFL before signing a two-year, $6 million contract with the Broncos this offseason. A valuable special-teams contributor, Sherfield flashed some legitimate deep-threat ability in Sean Payton’s offense this preseason.”
Preseason Run Changes Outlook for Sherfield
Sherfield has been steadily making his case to be the WR2 or WR3 option for the Broncos, underlined by leading his team with 3 receptions for 73 yards and one touchdown in a 30-9 preseason win over the San Francisco 49ers on August 9.
“It was 29-year-old wide receiver Trent Sherfield Sr. who was the new face with the biggest impact Saturday night,” ESPN’s Jeff Legwold wrote on August 10. “Sherfield, who signed a two-year deal in free agency, had 73 yards on his three receptions, including a top-shelf toe tap for a 36-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. In a crowded group of receivers, Sherfield has consistently shown in training camp that he can offer far more to the team than quality special teams play.”
From Undrafted To Crafting Lengthy NFL Career
Making an NFL roster was an uphill battle for Sherfield, 6-foot and 203 pounds, who went undrafted out of Vanderbilt in 2018 and is now on his sixth team in 8 seasons.
Sherfield broke into the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals and spent his first 3 seasons there before playing one season each with the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and Vikings.
While Sherfield has only played more than half of his team’s offensive snaps once — with the Dolphins in 2022 — but he’s played close to half or more of his team’s special teams snaps 5 seasons and had 8 special teams tackles in 2024.
Sherfield had a career high 30 receptions for 417 yards and 2 touchdowns with the Dolphins in 2022.
Landing with the Broncos represents a massive payday for Sherfield, who will almost make as much in 2 years with the Broncos as he earned in his first 7 NFL seasons combined ($8.8 million).
Trade Showed Broncos Have Faith in WR Group
The Broncos have enough faith in WR1 Courtland Sutton and the group behind him — including Sherfield — that they traded second-year wide receiver DeVaughn Vele to the New Orleans Saints.
Vele was considered to be in the running to be the WR2 or WR2 option behind Sutton, but after standout performances from Sherfield, rookie Pat Bryant and second year wide receiver Troy Franklin in the preseason.
