Denver Broncos: Early training camp 53-man roster prediction
Tight Ends
(4, 19/53)
- Noah Fant
- Nick Vannett
- Jake Butt
- Albert Okwuegbunam
- Troy Fumagalli (cut)
- Austin Fort (IR candidate)
This projection is a lot about finding a spot on the roster for Jake Butt. It isn’t impossible.
The Broncos’ tight end position is pretty loaded (and mostly healthy) this season. For the first time since the 2018 offseason, Butt is fully healthy (at least, as ‘fully’ as he can be) and showing well in camp.
Noah Fant, Nick Vannett, and Albert Okwuegbunam don’t have to worry about their roster spots at this point. Butt and Fumagalli will have to have a good enough camp that the Broncos are willing to keep a fifth tight end on the active roster if you include Andrew Beck among them, and they would.
Both Fumagalli and Butt have practice squad eligibility as well, and with Austin Fort projected to miss 4-8 weeks, he’s a clear IR candidate at this point (and should go to the practice squad after that).
Everyone in that Broncos locker room is rooting for Butt to make the team. The Broncos have invested three years of patience into Butt. There’s no question it would be a great story if he made the team, but he has to prove he can be an asset on the field.
If Butt is healthy come time for roster cuts, I think he will be the toughest player to cut among the fringe roster guys.