TIGHT END: 3 (16) — Virgil Green, Jeff Heuerman, A.J. Derby
PUP: Jake Butt
Practice Squad: Steven Scheu
Cut: Austin Traylor
If I could pick one position this entire offseason where no one has stood out, it would be tight end. Dating back to 2011, this is Virgil Green’s seventh straight potential breakout year. I don’t know what it is with Green, but with his athleticism and deep speed, it’s a wonder he hasn’t been able to emerge as an upper echelon NFL tight end.
Hopefully he can be a steady option for the Broncos this season as a receiver in addition to a blocker, where he has really developed well in his NFL career.
Heuerman and Derby have been roster locks from the beginning because of the investments the Broncos have made in them.
Jake Butt is probably going to be part of the active roster at some point this season, but not right away. He is still recovering from a torn ACL, and will be placed on the PUP. Once he is ready to practice, the Broncos will take him off and replace someone on the active roster. He should be an asset when he’s healthy.
Steven Scheu, if anyone, has stood out some this offseason. He made a couple of really nice catches in the training camp practices I attended, and has made some plays in the preseason as well. He should be added to the practice squad.
Austin Traylor has not stood out as either a receiver or blocker in games, but showed out as a blocker in camp.