Broncos 2024 positional review: Tight Ends

The Broncos tight end room has not changed much from last year, but this group has some potential for upside. First, the team re-signed Adam Trautman during free agency. He is a more traditional tight end who can provide some upside in the passing game. He is likely your starter, but after him, is where things get murky. You have oft-injured receiving tight end Greg Dulcich looking to finally get healthy and produce like we all hoped he would when the team drafted him in the third round. After that, you have the hyped-up Lucas Krull. He is a big, athletic tight end who flashed potential last season and is the current offseason darling. He has to prove he can be the guy during the summer, but he does offer some potential and excitement. Second-year tight end Nate Adkins is likely your blocking specialist of this group while international undrafted rookie tight end Thomas Yassmin gives them a project player to develop.

Overall, it’s not the most talented tight end room in the NFL but there is potential here for it to become better than we perceive it currently. If Dulcich can remain healthy (big if) and/or Krull can live up to the hype, they can be difference-makers in the passing game. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix is expected to target the middle of the field more, so we could see the tight ends be a bigger factor on offense this season.

Let us take a look at the Broncos' tight ends and what their roles, expectations, and chances of making the team are as we near the start of training camp.

Tight Ends

Adam Trautman

Trautman, who is one of the former Saints that followed Payton to Denver last year (via trade) ended up being the Broncos starting tight end throughout the 2023 season. He was not a huge factor in the passing game, but he was key as a blocker. He is a more traditional tight end and it is likely the role he will have once again this season. He will likely be the starter again while others serve as the receiving threat of this group.

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He re-signed with the Broncos on a two-year deal this offseason and figures to be the guy at tight end once again this season. Ideally, he will not be the main receiving threat from this unit like he was last season, but how the next two players we’ll cover fair will determine that.

Greg Dulcich

When healthy, the former third-round selection is an athletic freak with the ability to be a playmaker at tight end for the Broncos. The problem is, he has rarely been healthy and has dealt with hamstring and other various injuries throughout his short career with the Broncos. At this point, anything the Broncos can get from him moving forward is a plus since he has yet to prove he can remain healthy for an extended period of time.

He has yet to practice this offseason so he will be eased into action during training camp and the preseason. Injury-prone players rarely shake that label throughout their careers but hopefully, Dulcich can. He was expected to fill the “Joker” role in Payton’s offense last season, but that never happened. He needs to prove he can stay healthy and be a weapon in the passing game as he was expected to do. If not, he is becoming a wasted spot on the Broncos 90-man roster. This will be a big summer for Dulcich and I hope he can shake the struggles he had throughout his career.

Lucas Krull

Every offseason there is that one under-the-radar player who is getting hyped up as someone who could make a big leap this upcoming season. This year, it is tight end Lucas Krull. We saw the big and athletic tight end make some noise late in the season last year and is now the talk of the offseason. He had head coach Sean Payton hyping him up in press conferences and reporters excited over his potential as a receiver. He needs to continue to prove it throughout the summer, but there is certainly some excitement there.

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Krull is Greg Dulcich insurance and frankly, his potential replacement. If Dulcich struggles with injuries again, Krull is ready to take his role on offense. He is a big and athletic tight end who can stretch the field and be a mismatch for defenses. Like Dulcich, Krull needs to stay healthy and have a strong summer. If he misses any time or struggles, the team could start looking for outside options to fill that role of receiving tight end.

Krull is someone I am personally excited to hear about during camp and hopefully, he continues to have a strong summer. Having a big and athletic tight end as a receiving threat would add a dynamic to this offense that has been missing. The team did not add anyone to compete for this role during the offseason so they’re putting a lot of faith in Krull to be that guy.

Nate Adkins

His role is simple. He is the run-blocking specialist. The former UDFA was a standout last year and made the team coming out of training camp. He adds versatility as a fullback if needed and likely will be one of the key players on special teams. He is not a flashy player but one of those core players who does a lot of dirty work on the field that coaches love.

While not a dynamic receiver, he does have some receiving ability. I would not be surprised to see him targeted a few times a game in certain heavy packages. I think he is a lock to make the team and be a key player in the Broncos running and short-yardage game.

Thomas Yassmin

The Aussie-born UDFA was designated as their international player exemption and will not count against their 90-man roster. This rule allows teams to carry a 17th player on their practice squad and is reserved for international players like Yassmin. He played his college ball at Utah and showed some flashes of receiving ability.

He seems like a lock to be on the Broncos practice squad and gives them a bit of a project at tight end. He has good size, speed, and receiving ability and is someone I am anxious to see during training camp and the preseason.

Final Thoughts

The Broncos tight end room is probably one of the weaker ones on paper currently, but the upside is there. With that said, there is the risk that Adam Trautman will lead this unit in receptions and yards once again too. Not a shot at Trautman, but if he is your leader in yards and receptions again, things have gone bad for the Broncos.

This team needs one of Greg Dulcich or Lucas Krull to be a consistent receiving threat for them. Dulcich, as we know, has struggled with injuries and has been sidelined for most of his career. Expecting him to be healthy for an entire season is a bit of a stretch when he has yet to even practice this offseason. Meanwhile, Lucas Krull is getting hyped up but he has just 8 career receptions in his career. He still needs to prove he can be a legitimate receiving threat at tight end in the NFL. So, there is a lot of risk here but also a lot of upside. We shall see how it all shakes out but I am hoping for the best.