The Denver Broncos tight end position is one that has several big questions surrounding it heading into the 2024 season, especially with the production there being largely unproven. As the team reports for training camp, who will be the top TE option, and what will the depth look like?
Denver Broncos TE Lucas Krull could emerge as team’s best option
Lucas Krull was unknown by many in Broncos Country for a majority of 2023 until he started getting more reps after being elevated from the practice squad. In hindsight, the Denver Broncos tight end room drastically underperformed in 2023 and needs to be significantly better this upcoming season if the team hopes to sustain any success on offense.
Krull is a name that could help the offense do just that. At 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, he’s entering his second season with the Broncos after signing with the team initially after the preseason last year. He was a key standout during Broncos OTAs and minicamp, clearly leading the way as the team’s top tight end option with Greg Dulcich still working his way back from offseason foot surgery and Adam Trautman receiving some rest after a core-muscle strain. Last season, Krull worked his way onto the active roster from the practice squad, but his journey wasn’t easy. Sean Payton coached him hard in practice to nail down the little details that could help him understand the offense, and it paid off when his name was called.
His explosiveness and athleticism are impressive considering his size, and he can do damage in short-yardage situations, across the middle of the field, and vertically. From our observation at OTAs, it appears that Krull has all of Payton’s trust heading into training camp and could be a legitimate option for Bo Nix or any of the other Broncos QBs.
What does the Broncos depth at TE look like?
Behind Krull, Adam Trautman appears to be the team’s next most reliable option at the position. He appeared in all 17 games for the Broncos last season and started 12 of them. He stepped up in a big way after Dulcich’s injury held him out of action most of the season, hauling in 22 catches for 204 yards and three touchdowns. Ten of his 22 catches moved the chains for a first down. It’s unlikely that he’ll be the starter this upcoming season, but after signing a two-year deal to return this offseason, he’ll factor into the offensive rotation quite a bit. His veteran presence and durability are something the Broncos don’t have anywhere else at the position.
Quite arguably, the biggest wildcard is Greg Dulcich. When healthy, he’s been an impressive playmaker in the open field and downfield when targeted. His athleticism and speed are weapons, but they’ve also been part of the issue with his injury history. He’s injured the same hamstring four times in the last two seasons, and while that area of his body is better than it was, his recovery from offseason foot surgery led to him missing all of the team’s offseason program. He’ll have to make up a lot of ground if he’s ready for the start of training camp, and there is optimism he will be good to go. The injuries haven’t been his fault, but the Broncos are at a critical juncture of building their roster where they may have to factor in his history when determining how to build the 53-man roster.
Nate Adkins made the roster last season as an undrafted rookie free agent but didn’t get utilized that much, only seeing 10% of the team’s offensive snaps in 2023. It’s worth noting, though, that he stepped up in the offseason program when Trautman missed time with his core muscle injury. He had several big catches across the middle of the field from QBs like Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham. He’ll have to have a standout preseason in order to maintain his 53-man roster spot.
Undrafted rookie free agent Thomas Yassmin is a developmental prospect at the NFL level, and the best part about his role is that he doesn’t count against the active roster due to his international player designation. He’s got decent size to him and caught several passes during the team’s offseason program. The former rugby all-star is still developing to the game of football, but his overall body of work at Utah showcases his potential upside. He had 13 catches for 301 yards in 2022 and six touchdowns. In 2023, Yassmin played in five games before suffering a season-ending injury, ultimately catching eight passes for 89 yards and a touchdown.
How does the Broncos TE depth play out in training camp?
It’s hard to imagine the Denver Broncos carrying more than three tight ends on their active roster after training camp. Considering if everybody stays healthy, Lucas Krull, Adam Trautman, and Greg Dulcich should be the team’s projected players at the position.
Nate Adkins and Thomas Yassmin could likely return onto the team’s practice squad. With the amount of wide receivers the Broncos currently have on the roster, it makes more sense that the team may look to keep more receivers and running backs than tight ends from a roster construction standpoint.
