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Denver Broncos: Jeff Heuerman released before camp opens

By Sayre Bedinger

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 8: Jeff Heuerman #82 of the Denver Broncos runs a pass in for a touchdown in the first half of a game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on December 8, 2019 in Houston, Texas. The Broncos defeated the Texans 38-24. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 8: Jeff Heuerman #82 of the Denver Broncos runs a pass in for a touchdown in the first half of a game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on December 8, 2019 in Houston, Texas. The Broncos defeated the Texans 38-24. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos tight end Jeff Heuerman was released by the team before 2020 camp.

The Denver Broncos have made a pretty significant roster move ahead of veterans reporting for 2020 training camp, reportedly releasing veteran tight end Jeff Heuerman.

Heuerman was a third-round pick by the Broncos in the 2015 NFL Draft and is one of very few players drafted from 2013-2016 to get a second contract from the team.

The move was first reported by Mike Klis of 9News in Denver.

It’s not the fact that the Broncos decided to let go of Heuerman that’s overly surprising. As a matter of fact, it’s something Predominantly Orange writer Steven Kriz brought up about 24 hours before this actually happened.

The surprise here is the fact that the team waited until it was almost time for training camp to open up before letting Heuerman hit the free agent market.

Once the Broncos signed veteran Nick Vannett, the guy who succeeded Heuerman at Ohio State in 2016 as the starting tight end for the Buckeyes, and then drafted Albert Okwuegbunam, it was clear that winning a roster spot at tight end would be tough.

Couple that with the fact that the release of Heuerman opens up nearly $4 million in cap space for the Broncos, and this move has been inevitable for a long time. Maybe the Broncos tried to hang on to Heuerman in case some team wanted to swing a trade for him, or perhaps they genuinely wanted him to compete in camp and try to win a roster spot over someone like Andrew Beck or even Nick Vannett.

With that said, the Broncos have more cost-effective options beyond Heuerman on the roster in guys like Troy Fumagalli, Jake Butt, Austin Fort, and the rest of the players at that position to compete for a spot as well.

This move puts the Broncos’ overall roster at 79 players as rookies and quarterbacks have already reported for some on-field work at training camp in 2020.

Next. 5 players who will shine early at Broncos camp. dark

Will the Broncos leave the roster at 79 guys, or will they add someone else to the mix at another position?

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