The Broncos’ transition away from veteran receivers started last October when Demaryius Thomas was traded to Houston and continued last month when Emmanuel Sanders was flipped to San Francisco.

The current makeup of the Broncos’ receiving corps entering Sunday’s game at Minnesota is young. Very young.

Only Courtland Sutton has appeared in more than 24 regular-season games and only Diontae Spencer is older than 25. And when the season started, Spencer, Fred Brown and Juwann Winfree had not appeared in a game.

Second-year receivers coach Zach Azzanni has been tasked with developing the group.

“Certainly, when you have a younger group that you can mold and develop, you can be a little more creative in your teaching like you do in college and you can structure things more toward ‘development,’ rather than more toward ‘management,’” Azzanni said. “You can coach the development part of a young player and that’s what’s fun.

“In college, that’s your job: Develop an 18-year old. When (the young players) come here, you get to keep doing it rather than have a bunch of veterans and you’re not really developing — you’re teaching them something here and there, but you’re not taking them from square one, which with this group, I am. It’s cool.”

Azzanni offered progress reports on Sutton, Brown, Spencer, Winfree and DaeSean Hamilton during a recent interview with The Denver Post.

Courtland Sutton: He leads the Broncos in catches (44), receiving yards (692) and touchdown receptions (four). Basically the co-No. 1 until Sanders’ trade, he is now the top option.

Azzanni: “He’s made a ton of strides in every way. He’s grown not only as a wide receiver and a football player, but off the field, too, in understanding the routine and how things work in this league. He’s been great and he continues to push himself to do that, too. That’s a credit to him. He wants to be really good and he understands the steps he needs to take and he takes them on a daily basis. Pleased with his progress for sure.”

Fred Brown. He began the year on the practice squad, but has played in six games and moved past Hamilton on the depth chart. Brown has two catches.

Azzanni: “Absolutely a pleasant surprise. I always knew he had it in him and I knew he had the talent. The way to move yourself up a depth chart is just staying consistent in how you approach things. He’s a very unselfish player and he works as hard as he can. That’s why he’s been able to move up and get active and come from the practice squad. That’s a credit to him.”

DaeSean Hamilton: He has found the sledding difficult. He has 11 catches for 106 yards (no touchdowns) and has remained the No. 3 receiver even after Sanders’ trade.

Azzanni: “DaeSean has been great. He needs to continue to be consistent. (Not getting many catches) is the way the ball bounce sometimes, especially when you’re in the slot and maybe coverage dictates that or you’re getting the ball to your No. 1. It’s nothing he’s done wrong. He’s done a nice job getting separation and doing a great job against other teams’ nickels. It wasn’t because he hasn’t been open. He’ll continue to be great. He’ll be ready when his number is called.”

Diontae Spencer: Acquired to be the Broncos’ punt returner after the preseason, Spencer has five catches and two carries.

Azzanni: “We realize the things he does well. We’re not trying to put too much on his plate, but definitely give him a role. He’s a returner, but he’s also a receiver and he counts as a receiver so instead of standing next to me the whole game, we like to get him in there and help us. He got here after training camp so it took him a little bit like anybody to learn the offense, but every week, he’s more and more (comfortable) for sure.”

Juwann Winfree: A sixth-round rookie, Winfree has played in three games (no catches).

Azzanni: “Good strides (in practice), especially the last couple of weeks. I think people forget that Juwann didn’t play much last year (at Colorado) because of his injuries. Just starting to play football again, every day you run into something new that you need to work on and he’s approached it the right way and done a nice job. Again, I think the rest of the season and then the offseason will be big for him to see a huge jump. That’s what we’re banking on.”