PLAYER: Adam Trautman
POSITION: Tight end
AGE: 29
CURRENT CONTRACT: Two years, $7.5 million
EXPERIENCE: Six previous seasons, three with the Broncos
SPOTRAC CONTRACT PROJECTION: $2,803,076
KEY STATS:
Among 63 tight ends with at least 50 catchable passes over the last three seasons, has the 12th-best drop rate in the NFL, with one drop every 29 catchable passes and just two drops over those three years.
Has caught 56 passes for 589 yards and six touchdowns in three Broncos seasons.
Had the fifth-worst penalty rate among 89 tight ends with at least 200 snaps last year (per data gathered by Pro Football Focus), committing eight infractions.
WHY THE BRONCOS COULD BRING HIM BACK
Trautman is the reliable option. Sean Payton knows exactly what he’ll get from Trautman, having had him on his roster for his last five campaigns as a head coach — two in New Orleans and the previous three in Denver. No Broncos player other than kicker Wil Lutz has more experience with Payton, and that counts for something.
On a team plagued by drops, Trautman had one of the most reliable sets of hands in the locker room; he dropped just one pass last season, per data collected by SportRadar. Among Broncos players with at least five targets, only Marvin Mims Jr. was more reliable.
WHY THE BRONCOS WOULD LET HIM WALK
Trautman could be squeezed from the top and bottom of the depth chart.
On the top line, the Broncos could opt to tap into a free-agent class that is projected to include Cleveland’s David Njoku, Philadelphia’s Dallas Goedert and Baltimore’s Isaiah Likely, among others. Atlanta’s Kyle Pitts could sit atop the market, but rumblings are growing that new Falcons management will opt to place the franchise tag on the seven-year veteran.
Down below, the Broncos could bring versatile Nate Adkins and pass-catcher Lucas Krull back on restricted free-agent tenders, so, there may be room for no more than two of the Adkins-Krull-Trautman triumvirate.
Adkins has injury concerns after missing eight games down the stretch last season, and his career drop rate of one drop every 7.25 catchable passes isn’t great. But at 25, he’s nearly three-and-a-half years younger than Trautman, so, the team could go for the option with more tread on his tires.
Krull finished the season on injured reserve after succumbing to a foot fracture during a Week 5 practice. The Broncos should be able to bring him back with little trouble if they so desire.
THE OUTLOOK:
The Broncos kept four tight ends last year, so, there is room to bring back the seven-year veteran. They can also operate with some flexibility; if they add a free agent like Njoku and then draft a tight end such as Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq or Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers, the Broncos could make a cap- and roster-clearing move with Evan Engram via a post-June 1 designation to provide maximum 2026 flexibility.
If Trautman is back, the Broncos nevertheless need to improve the room. From the team’s perspective, the ideal scenario for a potential return could involve him being the No. 3 option. That would still leave a decent amount of snaps for him, given how much Payton wants to use two-tight end sets.
However, with former Broncos tight end coach Declan Doyle headed to Baltimore as the Ravens’ offensive coordinator — and the possibility of of Baltimore losing Likely and Charlie Kolar in free agency — Trautman might have more playing time in his sights elsewhere.
Trautman has played at least 52 percent of the snaps in each of the last five seasons. He’ll want to play. If the Broncos don’t provide that, there’s a decent chance that someone will.
