Broncos 2021 Free Agency Preview: Tight Ends

When the NFL free agency kicks off on March 17, the Broncos figure to be very active. For one, they have a lot of holes to fill, so there are plenty of reasons to go shopping. In addition, Denver has a new general manager, as George Paton will want to put an immediate stamp on his new team.

Currently, the Broncos are $39 million under the 2021 salary cap, but that number could grow a ton, depending on what Paton decides to do with high-priced veterans. Von Miller, Jurrell Casey and Bryce Callahan are just some of the names who could be let go to free up space to sign new faces, with more than $60 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 another position where the Broncos are seemingly set – tight end. Two years ago, Denver spent a first-round pick on Noah Fant. And last April, they used a fourth-round choice on Albert Okwuegbunam. Seemingly, those are the tight ends of the present and future. That said, some experience might be nice to add to the room. If that’s a direction the Broncos want to go, there are certainly plenty of options.

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Top Five Available

1. Robert Tonyan – When it came to breakout seasons in 2020, the Packers tight end was at or near the top of the list. Coming into the year, he’d only hauled in 14 passes for 177 yards during the first two seasons of his career. So no one saw the 52 catches, 586 yards and 11 touchdowns that he posted coming. By the end of the season, Tonyan was one of Aaron Rodgers’ favorite targets, catching a touchdown in seven of Green Bay’s final nine games.

2. Jonnu Smith – Despite playing on an offense that loves to run the football with Derrick Henry, Smith has still managed to stand out the past two seasons. In 2020, he had 41 catches for 448 yards; the tight end also scored eight times. He’s a big, dependable target with a nose for the end zone. Plus, he’s versatile. It’s hard to see the field in Tennessee unless blocking is in your repertoire, something Smith has improved on since coming into the NFL out of Florida International.

3. Hunter Henry – After missing the entire 2018 season, Henry has bounced back with two productive years. In 2020, he played in 14 games, one short of his career high, caught 60 passes for 613 yards and scored four touchdowns. Henry is a dynamic pass-catching option, the type of player who shows flashes of being one of the elite tight ends in the game. The big question is his injury history, however. During his five NFL seasons, he’s never appeared in every game, a trend that could scare off some teams.

4. Jared Cook – Cook is a bit of a late bloomer. He’s played 12 seasons, with five different teams, but didn’t make a Pro Bowl until his 10th year. He repeated the feat in 2019 during his first season with the Saints. This year, his numbers were down a bit, but still very respectable. Cook hauled in 37 passes for 504 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s a big, tall, athletic target, one that Drew Brees looked to often. He turns 34 in April, however, which makes him a bit of a gamble.

5. Rob Gronkowski – Gronk came out of retirement to join Tom Brady in Tampa Bay, helping the Buccaneers win Super Bowl LV. The year off didn’t seem to slow him down a bit, as the tight end caught 45 passes for 623 yards and found the end zone seven times. The four-time All-Pro doesn’t seem like someone who will chase a big contract; he’s more concerned with being in a winning situation. So it seems unlikely that Gronkowski would sign with anyone other than the Bucs.

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Realistic Options for the Broncos

1. Chris Manhertz – Manhertz has been in the NFL since 2014. During that time, the tight end has caught a grand total of 12 passes. It’s not for a lack of playing time. In 2020, he played in all 16 games, being on the field for 504 snaps. Yet, he still only caught six passes for 52 yards. He was essentially a sixth offensive lineman for the Panthers. And at 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds, he’s a darn intimidating one, something the Broncos could use.

2. Virgil Green – During his seven seasons with the Broncos (2011-17), Green was always the blocking tight end. He only caught 71 passes during that time, despite the fact that he spent four playing with Peyton Manning. That’s the type of player Denver needs, however, as neither Fant or Albert O. are known for their ability to open holes in the running game. After 10 years in the league, Green could also bring some much-needed veteran savvy to the tight ends room.

3. Jacob Hollister – Much like Green, Hollister hasn’t been much of a receiving threat during his career. The last two years, however, that started to change. Russell Wilson began looking his way more, especially in the red zone, as Hollister caught three touchdowns in both 2019 and ’20. But that’s not why he’s on the field. He gets playing time because he’s a good blocker, a role he’s excelled at during his four seasons in Seattle.

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