Broncos 2022 Free Agency Preview: Could a tight end make sense in ’22?

When the NFL free agency kicks off on March 16, the Broncos figure to be one of the most-active teams in the league. On the heels of a fifth-straight losing season, they have plenty of holes to fill. And with a new head coach coming in, they’ll need to tweak the roster to fit what Nathaniel Hackett wants to do.

Currently, the Broncos are roughly $40 million under the 2022 salary cap, but that number could grow a ton, depending on what George Paton decides to do with high-priced veterans. Mike Purcell, Daesean Hamilton and Sam Martin are just some of the names who could be let go to free up space to sign new faces, with more than $50 million potentially available.

How should the Broncos put all of those dollars to use? In the weeks leading up to the start of free agency, we’ll offer a position-by-position breakdown of the best players projected to be on the open market, as well as analysis of who would be a realistic fit in Denver.

It continues today with a position where the Broncos seem set – tight end. They have two pass catchers at that position that the organization seems to like. Noah Fant is a former first-round pick. He’s displayed big-play ability during his three years in the NFL. But he hasn’t developed into a Travis Kelce, George Kittle or Darren Waller. Albert Okwuegbunam is another talented player, but his inability to stay healthy have hurt his development. Both Fant and Albert O. thrive in the passing game. Their ability to block in the running game is a major question mark. That could create a need for the Broncos this offseason.

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Top Five Available

1. Dalton Schultz – Schultz has good timing. Heading into free agency, the fourth-year tight end had a breakout season, following up on a 2020 campaign that saw him burst onto the scene. As part of the Cowboys dynamic offense, Schultz had 78 receptions for 808 yards and eight touchdowns in ’21. That’s good in any offense. Given that he’s probably the fourth or fifth option on most plays, given the weapons that Dallas puts on the field on a weekly basis, it’s borderline remarkable.

2. Mike Gesicki – The former second-round pick has blossomed in Miami, despite the issues the Dolphins have had at quarterback. In 2021, his fourth season in the league, Gesicki posted career-highs in receptions (73) and receiving yards (780). He’s a solid, reliable target in the passing game. And he can help any offense move the chains, as 39 of his catches in ’21 went for a first down. He may not be a game breaker like Kelce, Kittle and Waller, but he’s very solid.

3. David Njoku – The former first-round pick has potential. A ton of it. That’s why the Browns gave him the full five years to prove that he’s an elite tight end. He could never quite do it. That could be because of injuries. It could be because of Baker Mayfield’s lack of development. It could be because Cleveland is a bit of a mess on an annual basis. But either way, 36 catches for 475 yards and four touchdowns isn’t the kind of production that the Browns were looking for when the took Njoku with the 29th overall pick in 2017.

4. Zach Ertz – Ertz may no longer be the player who hauled in 116 passes for 1,163 yards and eight touchdowns in 2018, but he can still be very effective. After being traded from the Eagles to the Cardinals midseason, he helped Arizona’s offense a lot, especially after DeAndre Hopkins was injured and they needed to find playmakers elsewhere. He will turn 32 in November, so Ertz is definitely in the twilight of his career. But for the right team, he’d be a really nice fit.

5. Gerald Everett – Everett has always had potential. That was evident when he came out of South Alabama in 2017. During his four seasons in Los Angeles, he showed flashes, but the not enough to become a part of the Rams long-term plans. During his one season in Seattle, it was much of the same. At times, Everett was impossible to cover. At others, he was dropping passes or fumbling at the goal line in crucial situations for the Seahawks. But he’s a pass-catching threat that could blossom.

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Realistic Options for the Broncos

1. Maxx Williams – Not a huge threat in the receiving game, Williams best season in terms of pass catching came in his rookie year, when he hauled in 32 passes for 268 yards. That was in 2015. Since then, he’s been a steady receiving threat, but has mainly been a blocking tight end. First, he was a part of Baltimore’s run-heavy offense. Then, he went to Arizona, where’s he’s been a part of the Cardinals balanced attack. He’s coming off of a knee injury, but should be ready to go by the start of training camp.

2. Jacob Hollister – After two productive seasons in Seattle, Hollister joined the Jaguars in 2021. Like many things in Jacksonville last season, it didn’t go well. In just seven games, he had only nine receptions. Dan Arnold supplanted him in the offense, limiting his opportunities. But as he showed with the Seahawks in 2019 and ’20, Hollister can be an effective tight end. He’s good in the running game, plus he hauled in 41 passes three seasons ago. The production is there.

3. Eric Saubert – The Broncos may decide to stick with what they know. Saubert came to Denver after stops in Atlanta, Chicago and Jacksonville. He was a steady performer, appearing in all 17 games this season. His receiving numbers certainly weren’t impressive (eight catches for 47 yards and a touchdown), but he was very good in the run game. He helped open holes for a pair of 900-yard rushers. If Nathaniel Hackett likes what he sees on film, it might make sense to simply keep the tight ends room intact.

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OTHER FREE AGENCY PREVIEWS

Quarterbacks – Read

Running Backs – Read

Wide Receivers – Read

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