Finding Broncos: Five Tight Ends to Round Out the Room

Finding Broncos scouts the 2023 NFL Draft with a group of tight ends that can round out the position.

Erick Trickel | Mar 21, 2023

Even though the Denver Broncos signed Chris Manhertz, they still can use additional depth at the tight end position. A lot is riding on the development of Greg Dulcich, who had a promising rookie season when healthy. They also have Albert Okwuegbunam, who has had flashes but hasn't been able to see the field consistently. However, these five tight ends can make sense as the Broncos look to finish up their tight end room.

Brayden Willis | TE | Oklahoma

Pros

Reliable blocker in college with sound technique and desired mentality.
He finds his landmarks when lead blocking and cleans out his assignment.
He offers versatility with where he lines up and is a willing special teams player.
Was a reliable weapon in the redzone.
He isn't afraid of contact as a receiver at any point.
Tough and willing to work in the middle of the field and is open to big hits.

Cons

Doesn't have a great catch radius.
Didn't test out as you would home at the NFL Combine.
He dropped six passes over the last two seasons, coming on 79 targets.
Will likely take extra time to come along as a receiver for the NFL, limiting him to a blocking and special teams role.
Could add more power/strength to increase his effectiveness as a blocker.
Limited upside as a receiver due to a lack of athleticism and speed.

Fit with Broncos

Willis can fit with the Broncos as a developmental blocking tight end and offer a great presence on special teams. In addition, he has the versatility to play inline or as a fullback, adding insurance to the tight end position and behind Michael Burton at fullback.

Blake Whiteheart | TE | Wake Forest

Pros

Limited exposure as a receiver, but he still picked up six touchdowns.
Tested out significantly better than expected at the Combine.
He has good awareness through his routes of where defenders are.
He does well to protect himself when meeting contact.
He has good ball skills and reliable hands to pluck the ball with a good catch radius.
Special teams' experience and was consistently reliable on the units.
He has a solid technical foundation as a blocker, especially with his lower half.
He uses his length and leverages well as a blocker.

Cons

He lacks the ideal size and build for a blocker.
Limited production as a receiver with 44 catches in three seasons.
He has to get stronger and add some mass to his frame to offer up more at the NFL.
Play-style is more fitting of a big receiver than an actual tight end.
Doesn't have great burst and can struggle to get separation.

Fit with Broncos

Whiteheart would be a developmental option that immediately offers special teams' ability. There are enough traits to work as a receiver on offense, but he must be kept away from blocking duties. The issue is the Broncos can use a more versatile tight end to develop, with Dulcich and Okwuegbunam offering up plenty as a receiver. If they managed to get hurt, Whiteheart could step in on offense, but it's a special teams' role unless that happened.

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Will Mallory | TE | Miami

Pros

Posted a Relative Athletic Score of 9.20.
Consistent production over the last three seasons.
Has solid hands with only 15 drops over five seasons.
He has good lower-body mechanics when working as a blocker.
Willing to do whatever is asked of him on offense.
He does an excellent job of finding the soft spot in zone coverage.
Athletic and does well in making quick adjustments.
He can attack the seam with his athleticism and long strider running.
Can be used to create mismatches against linebackers.

Cons

Got penalized seven times in 2022.
Doesn't have great strength, leading to significant issues when blocking.
Physical defenders can alter his routes and disrupt his catch process.
Could do with a little more mass to last as an inline tight end.
The catch radius isn't great.
The upside is limited, and he may never become the top guy in the room, and he will need significant development to be a solid second guy.

Fit with Broncos

Mallory is more of a big receiver with limited upside. He isn't the type of tight end that can dictate coverage, but the Broncos don't need that. With Greg Dulcich and Albert Okwuegbunam, the Broncos have their receiving tight ends taken care of. If Mallory offered up more as a blocker or even on special teams, he would make more sense for Denver.

Leonard Taylor | TE | Cincinnati

Pros

Great size and length to be a threat as a receiver and a blocker.
Was reliable and consistent in pass protection.
He keeps his feet driving as a blocker.
He has solid hands that pluck the ball out of the air.
There is some suddenness to his game as a receiver that can help get separation.
Ball skills are a plus.
Plenty of grip strength to sustain blocks.
The technique as a blocker is well-developed.

Cons

Will need to spend time in the weight room to get a little stronger.
Limited production as a receiver with 69 career catches over five seasons.
Penalties were an issue, with six in 2021 but only one in 2022.
He hasn't shown that big-play ability as a receiver, but it could be due to a lack of exposure.
He could bring more force into his blocks.
He needs to improve his routes and his variation of speed through his routes.
He needs to work his upper and lower body in unison as a blocker and roll up through his hips.

Fit with Broncos

Taylor is a versatile tight end who offers more as a receiver than his college production may indicate. In addition, he is a sound blocker with a solid technique that will need a few areas of development. With what the Broncos could use, Taylor is an excellent fit with his versatility, that they can work with and develop behind the core tight ends they already have.

Zack Kuntz | TE | Old Dominion

Pros

He had an outstanding Combine and a Relative Athletic Score of 10.00, the highest it can be.
Had outstanding production in 2021, with 73 catches for 692 yards and five touchdowns.
Excellent size and length, with an outstanding leaping ability, creating a huge catch radius.
He runs good routes that are clean with the technique.
Excellent ball skills with soft hands to reliably pluck the ball out of the air.
Great speed to attack the seam and stretch the defense vertically.
He has plenty of room on his frame to add more bulk.

Cons

He doesn't have much experience and missed time in 2022 with an injury.
Only 15 career starts in college.
Body control and coordination need work.
He has to get stronger and be more physical as a blocker for the NFL.
He is a tall tight end at 6-foot-8 and naturally has issues with his pad level.
Lumbered mover after the catch.

Fit with Broncos

Kuntz was the prize of the show at the Combine for tight ends. He has excellent receiving traits but lacks in vital areas as a blocker. While the Broncos don't have a significant need for another receiving threat at tight end, the athleticism and frame of Kuntz are enticing. The Broncos have the pieces in place to give Kuntz extra time to develop, especially with his blocking and in the weight room, without asking too much of him right away.

With the limited picks the Broncos have, tight end may not be a priority, but it is a strong class. Some draftable talent will likely go undrafted, which is where the Broncos could end up looking to round out their position group.

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Published Mar 21, 2023

ERICK TRICKEL

Erick Trickel is the Senior Draft Analyst for Mile High Huddle, has covered the Denver Broncos, NFL, and NFL Draft for the site since 2014.