Broncos Position Outlook: Team set with pass-catching tight ends, but may explore blocker – The Denver Post

Third in a series looking at each Broncos position group heading into the NFL draft (April 29-May 1):

2020 review: Noah Fant led the Broncos in receptions (62), was third in receiving yards (673) and tied for second in touchdowns (three). Fant played 15 games and 732 of 1,075 offensive snaps (72.4%). … Albert Okwuegbunam overcame a training camp injury to play in four games and catch 11 passes before sustaining a torn ACL. … The rest of the tight ends combined for 24 catches.

In-house offseason moves: None.

Additions: None.

Departures: The Broncos released Nick Vannett after one season (he signed with New Orleans). Jake Butt and Troy Fumgalli were not tendered one-year contracts and remain free agents.

Under contract: Fant, Okwuegbunam and Austin Fort. Andrew Beck is listed as a fullback/tight end.

Outlook: An offseason project for the Broncos’ coaches should be to figure out ways to get Fant down the field more often. As a rookie, he averaged 14.1 yards per catch, but 10.9 last year (long of 37 yards). Fant is serviceable enough as a blocker to play in 11 personnel (3WR-1RB-1TE) — 6 1/ 2 “bad” run blocks in 2020.

An intriguing possibility is coordinator Pat Shurmur using Fant/Okwuegbunam at the same time to keep the defense in base, allowing them to be matched against linebackers in coverage.

Fort remains under contract, but has missed both of his seasons because of knee injuries.

Need scale (1-10) — 2. Vannett served as the primary in-line blocking tight end, but his two-year, $5.7 million contract was too expensive for a player who didn’t add much as a receiver. But the Broncos should look at Day 3 tight ends who are more blocker/less receiver.

Tuesday: Offensive line.

Previous position outlooks: Linebackers | Defensive backs.

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