The Denver Broncos announced they have signed rookie tight end Dan Light of Fordham and waived wide receiver/return specialist Solomon Patton.
Patton had a hot start to training camp, including some jaw dropping catches in camp, but he hadn’t proven as effective in preseason play and the team decided to pursue other opportunities.
This move is interesting for a variety of reasons, and I’ll lay them out. First things first, here’s the skinny on the newest member of the Broncos, Dan Light.
#Broncos sign TE Dan Light; waive WR Solomon Patton http://t.co/AktA27wKi7 pic.twitter.com/gdcXSYXoQV
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 28, 2015
Dan Light at a glance – 6’5″, 265 pounds (great size) – College: Fordham – NFL Experience: Rookie – All-American, All-Patriot League selection in 2014 – Senior season stats (2014): 43 catches, 385 yards, 6 touchdowns – Originally signed by Kansas City Chiefs as UDFA
Read @KevinGArmstrong's story on Dan Light --> Through tragedy, injury, Light never goes out at Fordham http://t.co/BNU2TwYvcY
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) August 28, 2015
This is a really good thing too:
Dan Light is nicknamed "The Gronk of the Bronx."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) August 28, 2015
And a good word from Light’s agent…
After a good workout, my guy Dan Light (Fordham TE) has signed with @Broncos today. Happy for him, healthy & back to playing! #emgsports
— Ed Wasielewski (@ed_waz) August 28, 2015
And a big thanks to the internet for being awesome and having footage of this guy playing.
Hey #Broncos fans, here's a good breakdown of your newly signed TE Dan Light from #Fordham -> https://t.co/pf1C26qfv0
— Emory Hunt (@FBallGameplan) August 28, 2015
Let’s have a look at all the tight ends the Broncos have added this offseason (including guys who also play ‘fullback’)…
– Owen Daniels
– Virgil Green (re-signed)
– Joe Don Duncan (FB)
– Marcel Jensen
– James Casey (FB)
– Jeff Heuerman (Draft)
– Jake Murphy
– Dan Light
And Dominique Jones is still on the roster, which makes a whopping total of NINE tight ends on this Broncos team right now. I wonder if Gary Kubiak still values the tight end position pretty highly…
Even considering Casey and Duncan can double as fullbacks, seven true tight ends is a really impressive number even at this point in camp for an NFL team.
The Broncos’ front office should be proud, and defenses should fear the size of these guys. James Casey and Owen Daniels are the lightweights of the group at 240 and 245 pounds respectively.
Congratulations to Light on becoming the newest member of the Broncos!