Broncos Dropped the Ball at One Position This Offseason

Broncos Dropped the Ball at One Position This Offseason focuses on Denver’s tight end decision-making as the Broncos enter the new season with limited additions. After years of poor tight end performance, the team largely “ran it back,” making only late-round draft moves rather than pursuing new free agents. Denver re-signed tight ends Adam Trautman, Lucas Krull, and Nate Adkins, with Trautman returning for three years at $17 million and $9.5 million guaranteed. The analysis argues this missed an opportunity because Charlie Kolar and Daniel Bellinger, viewed as better blockers, signed three-year deals worth $24.3 million and $24 million. The Broncos aimed to protect projected 2027 compensatory picks, expected as a fourth and a seventh for losses of John Franklin-Myers and P.J. Locke respectively. The piece suggests the $7 million saved could have cost Denver value, while rookies Justin Joly and Dallen Bentley still face a learning curve at blocking.