Denver Broncos: TE Virgil Green finally primed for breakout?

Denver Broncos offseason: Is sixth year tight end Virgil Green finally in line for a breakout season at tight end? He seems to think this year, he will…

After Julius Thomas left the Denver Broncos in free agency a year ago, John Elway and the front office made both Virgil Green and Owen Daniels priority players in Gary Kubiak’s offense.

Competing with the Chicago Bears, the Broncos were able to sign Green to a three-year deal worth $8.4 million, a relatively bargain price for a starting tight end. However, Green has not contributed in the passing game like many thought he would coming out of college.

We’ve been talking about it going on six years now, which is impressive, because Green is a former seventh round pick from the first draft class John Elway had in Denver that is still making significant contributions to this team both offensively and on special teams.

Green’s ability to block wasn’t anything he was held in high regard for coming out of college, because his speed and ability to run after the catch were the focus of his game. As it has turned out, essentially the opposite of what scouts thought would become of Green in the NFL has come true.

He fell in the draft due to some injury concerns that haven’t come to pass, and the Broncos have gotten a tough player who has been a key blocker up front for them, but hasn’t really developed into the pass catcher everyone thought he would be coming out of Nevada.

This year, as Denver has not added anyone to the tight end position except Garrett Graham and Henry Krieger-Coble, Green thinks his role will expand in the offense at long last…

Green couldn’t help but get excited before the press when asked about an expanded role in the offense. It’s not that the Broncos are handing him a starting job — they have all the confidence in the world in second year player Jeff Heuerman — but they are giving him every chance to be ‘the guy’ now that Owen Daniels has departed, Vernon Davis is gone, and the job is there for the taking.

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Of course, we all know that the tight end position in this offense is as diverse as it gets in the NFL. Gary Kubiak uses guys split out wide, in line, in multiple TE looks, as H-backs, and everything in between. Green has the experience and the ability to be whatever the coaching staff asks him to be.

We have seen glimpses of the kind of pass catcher Green can be. We won’t sit here and say he’s going to be a 12-touchdown guy like Julius Thomas was, but he has enough experience now that the Broncos can count on him to be an every-down player and one of the most improved on the roster.