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Denver Broncos: Troy Fumagalli a three-down player

By Sayre Bedinger

ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 02: Troy Fumagalli #81 of the Wisconsin Badgers makes a catch over Darius Phillips #4 of the Western Michigan Broncos in the fourth quarter during the 81st Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between Western Michigan and Wisconsin at AT&T Stadium on January 2, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 02: Troy Fumagalli #81 of the Wisconsin Badgers makes a catch over Darius Phillips #4 of the Western Michigan Broncos in the fourth quarter during the 81st Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between Western Michigan and Wisconsin at AT&T Stadium on January 2, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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The Denver Broncos are eagerly anticipating the debut of one of their new offensive weapons, fifth-round pick and tight end Troy Fumagalli…

The Denver Broncos have gotten great reports back already this offseason from most of their 2018 rookie class, including some of the undrafted free agents.

One rookie whose presence has not yet been felt is tight end Troy Fumagalli, who is recovering from a sports hernia.

Fumagalli was held out of offseason activities as the Broncos very slowly but surely assemble their tight end position. He may not have been in the mix at OTAs, but Fumagalli is going to play a role in this Broncos offense, and he said after the draft that he won’t be limited to a ‘specialty’ role.

"“I am (a three-down player), yes. That’s something I take great pride in. Playing at Wisconsin and under coach Paul Chryst, he had us do everything and that’s something I pride myself on. I worked at it every day and that’s something I know I can do.”Troy Fumagalli (quotes via Broncos PR)"

While Fumagalli spent OTAs recovering from injury, some of his teammates at the tight end position generated some hype from the media.

Most notably, fellow former fifth-round pick Jake Butt was out at practice making one-handed catches and impressing coaches, but Butt’s success this offseason won’t prevent Fumagalli from getting a chance to make a splash in training camp.

As he noted, Fumagalli proudly excels as a three-down player at the tight end position and reviewing his film more in-depth, it’s clear to see that blocking is one of his top skills as a player.

There are plenty of big-time catches on Fumagalli’s resumé, but as an NFL tight end, you can get on the field a lot more if you can prove to coaches that you can block.

Next: Denver Broncos TE position preview

That’s exactly what he’s going to have to do right away when he gets a chance at training camp. The Broncos will have so many options offensively at receiver and tight end this year with big upside, but Fumagalli shouldn’t be cast aside as an afterthought.

Since Jeff Heuerman is the team’s career reception leader at the tight end position with 18, the competition for snaps at the position will be fierce.

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