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Denver Broncos: Debating available free agents as upgrades

By Sayre Bedinger

ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 12: Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 12, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 12: Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 12, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 24: Antonio Gates #85 of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates after scoring a first-half touchdown reception against the New York Jets in an NFL game at MetLife Stadium on December 24, 2017, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 24: Antonio Gates #85 of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates after scoring a first-half touchdown reception against the New York Jets in an NFL game at MetLife Stadium on December 24, 2017, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty Images) /

Tight End: Antonio Gates vs. Broncos TEs

The Denver Broncos have a tight end group of six players currently with a combined 30 career receptions.

Jeff Heuerman leads all players at this position with 18 career catches.

The Broncos have two young players they believe in, both former fifth-round draft picks.

Jake Butt and Troy Fumagalli were All-Big Ten selections and two of the most dynamic players in that conference as far as blocking and catching.

The team doesn’t know what it has in Butt or Fumagalli as far as on-field experience, and Heuerman has not been able to break out with primarily Trevor Siemian at quarterback and Virgil Green eating up more snaps than he probably should have.

The Broncos have a lot of promise at the tight end position but the idea of adding a veteran to the mix is not the worst idea in the world.

Antonio Gates, in particular, would be a fine addition to the Broncos’ lineup. Seeing Gates do a Mile High Salute against the Chargers would be a small but satisfying repayment for all the years he has tortured Denver.

Gates is 38 but he’s still capable of moving the chains and being a playmaker in the red zone.

Upgrade? Maybe.

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