Callaway has agreed to terms with the Broncos, Aric DiLalla of the team's official site reports.
What it means:
Per Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post, Callaway is joining the Broncos on a one-year deal. The 6-foot-2, 204-pounder is coming off a 2022 season in which he caught 16 passes for 158 yards and a TD in 14 games with the Saints, but it's worth noting that Callaway posted career-best marks (46/698/6) in 2021, while working with Sean Payton (now Denver's head coach) in New Orleans. For now, however, he slots in behind Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick on his new team's wideout depth chart, but the 24-year-old does give the Broncos added depth on that front in the event that KJ Hamler (pectoral) isn't ready for game action early on this coming season.
The Saints are not expected to tender Callaway, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
What it means:
Callaway has totaled 1,069 yards and seven touchdowns in three years with the Saints and was set for restricted free agency this summer, but the undrafted wideout will be free to sign anywhere he wants if his contract isn't tendered. Fowler added that a return to the Saints could still be in the cards if Callaway can't find a better deal elsewhere, but for now, the 6-foot-2 speedster appears on his way out of New Orleans.
Callaway failed to catch his lone target during Sunday's 10-7 loss versus the Panthers.
What it means:
Callaway suited up for the regular-season finale after being ruled a healthy scratch in three of the previous seven games. However, his season-low eight offensive snaps was still the fewest of any Saints wide receiver Week 18. The third-year wideout previously served as one of the team's top pass catchers when Michael Thomas (toe), Jarvis Landry (ankle) and Chris Olave (concussion) were all sidelined in mid-October. However, Callaway was then crowded out with Olave available for all but one of the final 11 games and undrafted rookie Rasheed Shaheed stepping up into the No. 2 receiver spot over the second half of the season. Callaway finished the 2022 season with 16 receptions (on 32 targets) for 158 yards and one touchdown while adding 25 punt-return yards over 14 games. He is now set to enter the 2023 offseason as a restricted free agent, leaving his future with the Saints up in the air.
Callaway is inactive for Sunday's game in Philadelphia.
What it means:
Callaway was the team's No. 2 receiver at one point earlier this season and got some snaps last week with Chris Olave sidelined by a hamstring injury, but this isn't the first time Callaway has been a healthy scratch. Olave is back in this week, and likely joined by Rashid Shaheed and Tre'Quan Smith as the lead trio at wide receiver. Callaway thus loses out to Kirk Merritt and Keith Kirkwood, both of whom seemingly offer more special teams value.
Callaway did not haul in his lone target during Monday's 17-16 loss versus the Buccaneers.
What it means:
Callaway has essentially fallen out of the Saints' wide receiver depth chart, as he's now seen just two targets while being ruled a healthy scratch twice in the last four weeks. While he appeared to have a chance at a bigger role after Kevin White (illness) was waived Monday, the 24-year-old Callaway wound up playing just two more offensive snaps than core special-teamer Tre'Quan Smith (11) and Kirk Merritt (11), the latter of whom was elevated from the practice squad Week 13. Callaway helped fill in for the team's extremely banged-up receiving corps up until Week 9. But, his targets have now gone toward explosive playmaker Rashid Shaheed, whose seen his playing time increase in each of the past four games. Expect Callaway to continue playing an extremely limited role when active moving forward.
Callaway (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the 49ers.
What it means:
Callaway was also a healthy scratch Week 10, and although he suited up Week 11 against the Rams, he only saw one target, which he caught for a six-yard gain. He'll now work to be active Week 13 against the Buccaneers.
