Denver Broncos: 5 players most impacted by team’s 2020 draft picks

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 29: Isaac Yiadom #26 of the Denver Broncos stands on the field during player warm ups before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High on September 29, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 29: Isaac Yiadom #26 of the Denver Broncos stands on the field during player warm ups before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High on September 29, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 22: Jeff Heuerman #82 of the Denver Broncos is brought down by Jaire Alexander #23 of the Green Bay Packers during the second half at Lambeau Field on September 22, 2019, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 22: Jeff Heuerman #82 of the Denver Broncos is brought down by Jaire Alexander #23 of the Green Bay Packers during the second half at Lambeau Field on September 22, 2019, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Jeff Heuerman

The Broncos definitely did not need another tight end, but they took one anyway when Albert Okwuegbunam was still on the board in the fourth round. The team felt that the upside of Drew Lock‘s former teammate at Missouri was just too good to pass up.

Okwuegbunam comes onto a roster that is chock-full of tight ends, most of which the Broncos have themselves drafted. The odd man out could be Jeff Heuerman.

Heuerman, by most accounts, has been a disappointment for the team. The former third-round pick has never developed into much of a receiving threat and he has two things working against him heading into 2020.

First, the team signed Nick Vannett this offseason to fill the same role Heuerman has had (sometimes receiver, mostly blocker). In addition, Heuerman has a $4.3 million cap number this season, easily the highest of any tight end on the roster.

According to Over the Cap, cutting Heuerman would save the team nearly $4 million in cap space as his deal includes just $500,000 in dead money.

The Broncos will be moving on from several tight ends this offseason (Bug Howard has already been let go) but the team still has seven tight ends on the current roster. At most, four of them will be kept.

Heuerman is going to have to really step up this summer if he wants to stick around.