Gary Barnidge could be emergency option for Denver Broncos

Gary Barnidge is a proven tight end looking for a home. The Broncos need stability at tight end. This would be a wise acquisition…

I have a thing for nostalgia. While sultry actress Marilyn Monroe sang diamonds are a girl’s best friend, tight ends are the best of a quarterback.

If the Denver Broncos want to help their quarterback situation improve, a solid tight end makes sense.

Veteran Gary Barnidge is still on the market as this tweet confirms:

Barndige, an 8-year veteran out of Louisville, has 178 grabs for 2,258 yards and 14 touchdowns with the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns.

If the Broncos can acquire someone of his ilk, it would help either Paxton Lynch or Trevor Siemian out.

The tight end matter was addressed somewhat in the draft as Michigan standout Jake Butt was selected. However, it remains a mystery whether Butt’s torn ACL will have healed in time for training camp later this month.

As an insurance policy, bringing Barnidge in may prove to be a stroke of genius. This is precisely front office executive John Elway’s specialty.

I have also been a fan of Virgil Green’s and in his career, he has 57 catches in 81 targets. That’s a 70.3 percent success ratio.

Jeff Heuerman has had his moments. In the 29-17 win over Cincinnati in Week 3 of 2016, he showed what he was capable of with a 29-yard grab.

Meanwhile, A.J. Derby (16 rec, 160 yards in 2016) remains a generally unknown commodity for the Broncos.

Thus, if the Broncos are able to bring in a Barnidge, he instantly bolsters a position that is still a question mark at this stage.

Bringing in Barnidge would also require all other tight ends at camp to step their games up. Such a thing will do nothing but enhance everyone’s overall performance.

I have noticed that in previous comments from head coach Vance Joseph, that he wants competition at all positions.

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So, with all the pros that Barnidge would bring to the table, I’m having a hard time discerning any cons.

If the Broncos are to be the best they can be, I would definitely endorse the potential acquisition of Barnidge.

After all, whoever wins the quarterback competition deserves the best friend that can be had, a reliable tight end.