General Manager George Paton spoke with Mike Klis from 9NEWS Denver today during the NFL Scouting Combine, providing insight into the Broncos’ requirements as they approach free agency and the draft.
Paton informed Klis that the Broncos aim to address their tight end position this offseason and seek to acquire a weapon for the middle of the field, an area they perceive as lacking. “I don’t want to reveal all our needs, but we definitely need to strengthen the tight end position,” Paton stated. “Greg Dulcich has been hampered by injuries, but we require a playmaker in the middle of the field. It’s an area where we’ve felt a deficiency.”
Despite drafting explosive tight end Greg Dulcich in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the intention of him becoming a receiving threat, chronic hamstring injuries have restricted his availability, allowing him to play in just 12 games over the past two seasons, including only two games last year for the Broncos. While displaying his receiving prowess when healthy, his reliability has been questioned, prompting the team to seek additional assistance.
Several free agent options might catch the Broncos’ interest, such as Dalton Schultz from the Texans, Hunter Henry from the Patriots, former Broncos first-round pick Noah Fant, Gerald Everett from the Chargers, Austin Hooper from the Raiders, Mike Gesicki from the Patriots, and the recently released Jonnu Smith.
Considering Dulcich’s presence on the roster, the Broncos might opt for a veteran addition, and there are promising candidates available should they pursue that route.
As for the draft, there are several intriguing prospects to monitor. Georgia’s Brock Bowers is expected to be a first-round selection and could be an option for the Broncos at 12, although it’s unlikely they’ll go that route.
Following Bowers, Texas’s Ja’Tavion Sanders, Ohio State’s Cade Stover, Kansas State’s Ben Sinnott, Florida State’s Jaheim Bell, Colorado State’s Dallin Holker, and Penn State’s Theo Johnson are all names to keep an eye on for the Broncos in the middle rounds of the draft.
Heading into the offseason, tight end wasn’t a top priority on my list of needs for the team, given the numerous areas requiring attention. However, it appears that the Broncos are keen on finding a receiving threat at the position this offseason.
So now I pose the question to Broncos Country: How would you prefer the Broncos address this issue? Should they sign a veteran as insurance for Greg Dulcich and his persistent hamstring issues, or should they draft another rookie and hope for immediate contributions?
