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Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton watches warm ups before a game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Despite a loud trade for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, the Denver Broncos have been awfully quiet when it comes to signing free agents this offseason.
The Broncos went through the March 9-11 free agency window without a whisper. Letting safety P.J. Locke sign with the Dallas Cowboys, and defensive end John Franklin-Myers sign with the Tennessee Titans.
However, head coach Sean Payton was sure about one thing, re-signing tight end Adam Trautman. The Broncos signed Trautman to a three-year, $17 million contract, and fans were not happy.
One of the Broncos biggest weaknesses is the tight end position.
Thoughts on the Adam Trautman deal:
Why?
Sean Payton spoke about his reasoning for resigning Trautman at the NFL Annual League meeting on Tuesday, March 31.
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Sean Payton Feared Losing Adam Trautman to NFC Contenders, Bills and Bears
At the 2026 NFL Annual League coaches breakfast, Sean Payton discusses the value that tight end Adam Trautman adds to the team.
“You know exactly what you’re getting in [Trautman],” Payton said per a video posted by Luca Evans on X. “If we want to run the ball well, he’s one of the better blocking tight ends, he’s really good in pass protection.”
“We know exactly what Adam is. That was just going to take time to see where the market valued him, and so, I’m glad he’s back. We don’t take him for granted,” Payton said about the tight end.
Payton also alluded to the fear of Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator, Pete Carmichael, and Chicago Bears tight end coach, Jim Dray, snagging Trautman off the market.
“They have a little more exposure to your free agents… and so that was a little bit of a concern,” Payton expressed.
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Denver Broncos Still Looking to Address Tight End Position in 2026 NFL Draft
While Sean Payton explained his decision to resign TE2 Adam Trautman, he has not ruled out getting to know the 2026 tight end draft class.
Sean Payton, asked on this ’26 TE draft class — said he hasn’t done a ton of eval, team will enter draft lockdown starting Wednesday AM. Said he’s “anxious” to see good prospects in TE class.
“Hopefully we can get to know ‘em, and possibly have a target in there.”
The Denver Broncos have been linked to Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers in several 2026 mock drafts.
Stowers recorded the highest vertical jump (45.5”) at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, breaking the record for tight ends.
“Stowers is an explosive quarterback convert with just three years at the tight end position. He’s an excellent athlete with long arms but needs to keep filling out his frame,” NFL writer Lance Zierlein said about Stowers in his scouting profile on NFL.com. “He’s a natural pass catcher with an outstanding catch radius and massive run-after-catch talent.
NFL reporter Arye Pulli shared that Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright, had a virtual interview with the Broncos.
“Wright is a high-cut, tight-hipped tight end who can stretch the field vertically but lacks fluidity and bend for crisp route breaks from speed,” Zierlein said in his scouting profile. “He builds speed to threaten defenses, working the vertical limbs of the route tree. He can gain an advantage on linebackers when aligned outside. He’s big and strong enough to improve as a run blocker but needs better technique and commitment in that area.
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Adam Trautman’s history with Sean Payton
Before Adam Trautman was a Denver Bronco, the tight end was a New Orleans Saint. With none other than Sean Payton as his head coach.
Payton drafted Trautman out of Dayton in the 2020 NFL Draft. When Payton made his way to Denver, he made sure to trade for the tight end before the 2023 season even started.
Trautman’s return in 2026 should not be a surprise to Broncos fans, as he has played his entire six-year career under Sean Payton.
McKenna Van Gundy McKenna Van Gundy is a sports journalist covering the NFL for Heavy.com. She spent two years as a sports contributor for her University’s newspaper, covering games and writing feature stories on players and coaches. She currently works for the NFL as a digital programming associate and lives in the greater Los Angeles area. More about McKenna Van Gundy
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