Broncos Acquire TE Adam Trautman in Draft-Day Trade With Saints

The Denver Broncos made their third trade of the NFL draft on Saturday.

In a draft-day trade with the New Orleans Saints, the Denver Broncos acquired fourth-year tight end Adam Trautman and the No. 257 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. The Broncos relinquished pick No. 195 in the sixth round. 

It was Denver's third trade since the draft began on Thursday.

We've acquired TE Adam Trautman and the @Saints' seventh-round pick (257) for our sixth-round pick (195). pic.twitter.com/XS22sDb7op

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) April 29, 2023

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Then-Saints head coach Sean Payton drafted Trautman in the third round out of Dayton back in 2020. Payton coached the young tight end for two years before stepping down as the Saints' head coach following the 2021 season, and now, the pair reunites in the Mile High City. 

Coach Payton called Trautman a "true Y tight end" following the 2020 draft, which means he's a player who's more comfortable inline (as a blocker) than he is running routes around the formation. But Trautman could have more upside than merely being a blocking tight end. 

“For a small-college player, we feel he has really good in-line strength,” Payton said back in 2020. “He’s also someone that we think has real good hips. His change of direction, you can see that in how he sets up his routes. For someone who played at a smaller level, you see a dominant player.”

Trautman's production, and that 'Y' skill set that so attracted Payton three years ago, happened in the NCAA Pioneer Football League. So what has Trautman produced since becoming a pro in New Orleans?

Trautman started 22 games for the Saints over the past two seasons, totaling 45 receptions for 470 yards and three touchdowns. In Payton's last year in New Orleans, Trautman hauled in a career-high 27 receptions for 263 yards and a pair of scores. 

The Broncos signed Chris Manhertz in free agency, a blocking tight end, and have the second-year Greg Dulcich and fourth-year Albert Okwuegbunam on the roster, the latter of whom are athletic pass-catchers. Trautman's arrival will balance out the tight end room, giving Payton a nice selection of players with different skill sets to help the Broncos' offense. 

We'll see who the Broncos draft at pick No. 257 on Saturday. 

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