Broncos camp competition preview: Why tight end could be the most interesting position on the roster

When the regular season arrives, the intrigue at tight end will revolve around how offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur will use his pieces. But the last two offseasons make it clear who the top two tight ends will be.

The 2019 acquisition was first-round pick Noah Fant, whose rookie season was equal parts tantalizing and frustrating. A spate of drops and some issues tracking the ball plagued him early in the year, cresting with a frustrating performance in the loss at Kansas City.

But in the weeks that followed, Fant improved and earned more trust. By the end of the year, he posted a stat line that put him in elite company, becoming the first rookie tight end in 25 years to post 40 receptions, at least 500 yards and an average of 14 or more yards per reception.

Now Fant gets to work with a coach who maximized Evan Engram with the Giants. Engram’s speed is comparable to the 4.5 that Fant possesses. On long jaunts against the Browns and Texans last year, Fant displayed the same game-breaking capability that thrust Engram into the game’s top tier of pass-catchers at the position.

And consider this: In the second half of the season, just six players had more receptions of 40 or more yards than Fant. All were wide receivers: Mike Williams of the Chargers, Tennessee’s A.J. Brown, Miami’s DeVante Parker, Detroit’s Kenny Golladay, Kansas City’s Tyreek Hill and Minnesota’s Stefon Diggs (later traded to Buffalo).

Fant had as many 40-plus plays in his rookie season as Engram notched in his first three years, and his three 40-plus plays allowed him to share the league lead among tight ends with Kansas City’s Travis Kelce.

THIS YEAR’S PRIMARY ACQUISITION was free-agent pickup Nick Vannett. At the time, it was perceived as a surprise. Vannett effectively becomes the in-line power gear in the room. For Shurmur, he promises to fill the role that Scott Simonson and the now-retired Rhett Ellison held with the Giants the past two seasons, with both serving as complements to Engram.

While Vannett sees himself as a “good two-way player,” he acknowledged in April that his role would likely revolve around the ground.

“As far as my role, I think they’re just looking for me to come in and just be effective in the run game,” he said on April 3. “I don’t know exactly what they’re planning this year, but by seeing them signing Melvin Gordon and kind of adding some more depth in the running back room, I think they’re going to really make the run game a big part of the offense this year.

“I think they’re just looking for guys to kind of come in and do an effective job at blocking and really helping out in the run game.”

Helping out in the run game is presumably not what potential backup Albert Okwuegbunam will do; the fourth-round pick is likely to provide pass-catching depth behind Fant. His 4.49 speed also gives the Broncos more possibilities if he chooses to deploy two-tight end sets; if he matures quickly, he could create pick-your-poison conundrums for linebackers and safeties.

Shurmur moved away from multi-tight-end formations last year with the Giants. According to Sharp Football Stats, the Giants ran 207 snaps with at least two tight ends last year, down by 68 from the 2018 season.

Such a shift was understandable, as Engram played in a career-low eight games due to a foot injury. That came one year after he missed five games due to three separate injuries.

With Fant and Vannett, expect that number to look more like the 2018 figure for the Broncos this season.

Fant, Vannett and Okwuegbunam are likely set, thanks to draft status for two of them. For Vannett, he has a contract that would allow the Broncos to save just $500,000 in cap space if they cut him, per OvertheCap.com.

SO, ON THE 53-MAN ROSTER, Jeff Heuerman, Troy Fumagalli, Austin Fort, Jake Butt and Andrew Beck could be battling for one 53-man roster spot. Heuerman’s contract could put him in jeopardy; the Broncos save $3,875,000 if they let him go. Furthermore, Vannett has a similar skill set to Heuerman — and even common background; they were teammates at Ohio State.

Beck’s versatility as the only potential fullback on the roster could give him an edge; he profiles as a player like Patrick Hape. A four-year Bronco (2001-04) who played eight NFL seasons in total, Hape was a goal-line tight end, an H-back, a fullback and a special-teams force who could do a little of everything.

Butt’s potential is boundless, but after missing all but three games due to various knee injuries, the Broncos can’t rely on him.

If he stays healthy and blossoms, he creates the kind of conundrum every team wants: too much talent. It has never been a question of whether Butt possesses the skills and intangibles to flourish; through the first two games of the 2018 campaign; he was on pace for a 48-catch, 616-yard season before yet another knee injury suffered in Week necessitated more surgery.

Fort looked much like Butt did early in training camp last year before he tore his ACL in a preseason loss at Seattle. Fumagalli got healthy and showed promise in the spring and summer, but his repetitions were scant over 11 games in which he played, catching six passes.

But here’s where it gets interesting: For all of these players beyond the three who appear likely to be locks, an expanded practice squad provides another option.

One of the stipulations of the new collective bargaining agreement was an expanded practice squad: 12 players this year and 14 by 2022, up from 10 last year. An expanded practice squad has been discussed in the NFL’s negotiations with the NFLPA about pandemic-related alterations, so the squad could create more opportunities.

But now, the practice squad could include up to four players who have played no more than two accrued seasons — no matter how many games they’ve played — and two players who have any number of accrued seasons.

So, any of the tight ends who don’t stick on the 53-man roster could be on the practice squad if they are cut and go unclaimed. For players like Fort, Butt and Fumagalli, this could buy them time to continue developing. Considering that all three of them have missed at least one full season apiece due to an injury, time is what they need most.

There is a surplus of talent and depth at the position for the Broncos. The question now is how much of both will remain with the team — in some capacity — come September.