Entering the 2026 season, tight end is another position the Denver Broncos will need to reevaluate. Denver not only needs a tight end who can block but also one who’s effective in the passing game. Here are three tight ends the Broncos need to try adding to their roster.

Trey McBride — Arizona Cardinals 

It may be a reach for the Broncos to pursue Trey McBride, as he will not be a free agent this offseason. McBride signed a four-year, $76 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals last offseason and remains under contract.

In 2025, McBride led all tight ends in receiving yards, catching 126 receptions for 1,239 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns while averaging 9.8 yards per catch and playing in all 17 games. McBride’s remarkable season resulted in him setting the single-season receptions record for tight ends.

After having two consecutive seasons with over 1,000 yards, it’s worth thinking about whether McBride is content with continuing to put up big numbers or if he wants to win, which is something he hasn’t accomplished in the NFL due to being a part of one of the worst teams in the NFC West.

If McBride wants to win and, at some point, requests a trade, Denver would be the perfect destination. In fact, McBride has ties to Colorado, as he grew up in Fort Morgan and played collegiately at Colorado State.

McBride would offer to Bo Nix what no current tight end on the Broncos roster can, while he is certainly not as old as Evan Engram and Adam Trautman. The situation became so bad that the Broncos had to put Marcedes Lewis on their active roster at one point last season.

Having a tight end on offense as talented as McBride would help make it easier for Denver’s wide receivers to get open, while he’s certainly someone they can rely on for third down and in the red zone, given how much he was able to score last season.

Kyle Pitts Sr. — Atlanta Falcons 

Kyle Pitts Sr. is one of two free-agent tight ends who stand out and could be a good fit if the Broncos add him to their offense. Most of the tight ends set to be free agents in 2026 are up there in age and didn’t produce much, while some of the younger ones are too inexperienced. 

Pitts Sr. was the second leading tight end for receiving yards after McBride. In 2025 with the Atlanta Falcons, Pitts Sr. caught 88 passes for 928 yards and five receiving touchdowns, while averaging 10.5 yards per catch, which was even more than McBride’s average. 

An advantage of Pitts Sr. being on the Broncos is his size: he stands at 6’6 and weighs 250 lbs. Having a tight end like this could help Nix to place the football in places he hasn’t been able to prior, given Pitts Sr.’s crazy catch radius. 

The former Florida Gator would not only be a great deep threat for the Broncos, but can also take catches off of running short routes and turn them into super big plays. Pitts Sr. would also be great in the red zone and on third down, while he, too, was fully healthy and more effective than any of the Broncos’ current tight ends. 

If Denver can offer Pitts Sr. a good deal, its offense has the chance to dismantle every defense it plays against next season, especially if the Broncos’ wide receivers not only stay fully healthy but play to the best of their abilities. 

Isaiah Likely — Baltimore Ravens
Isaiah Likely ContractDec 7, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely (80) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely is the second tight end who will hit free agency that stands out and may be easier for the Broncos to pursue, as he’s not getting paid as much as McBride and Pitts Sr. 

In four seasons with the Ravens, the Coastal Carolina alum has played in 63 games, catching 135 receptions for 1,568 yards and 15 touchdowns. Although he hasn’t recorded a season with more than 500 receiving yards, Likely has averaged 11.6 yards per catch over the span of his career. 

Likely has great height and can make spectacular catches. The tight end showed visible frustration this season, as Lamar Jackson’s injuries affected his effectiveness, and he expressed frustration with the team’s losing and failure to qualify for the postseason. 

Likely could reach new milestones in Denver if both sides agree to a deal. With Sean Payton giving Davis Webb offensive play-calling duties, there’s no telling what things the Broncos offense can cook up with a tight end that’s on the rise in Likely.

Main Image: Brett Davis-Imagn Images