Denver Broncos: Undrafted rookie spotlight on TE Shaun Beyer
Tight end was a position the Denver Broncos could have potentially beefed up this offseason. But instead of a big free-agent signing or draft pick, the team did minimal in that area.
That is a sign that George Paton was content with what he has in Noah Fant and Albert Okwuegbunam. Either that or the draft and free-agent market just didn’t have the player he wanted at the right price.
In addition to signing veteran Eric Saubert, the team brought in undrafted free agent Shaun Beyer out of Iowa. The tight end joins the aforementioned names along with Austin Fort on the depth chart.
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 249
School: Iowa
Beyer played at the same school as Fant and has an NFL body. He does seem to have some limitations though, at least as a pass-catcher.
Beyer had just 18 receptions during his entire collegiate career. Watching him on film, he doesn’t run a diverse route tree and had trouble getting separation at the college level, an issue that will only be more glaring in the pros.
On the plus side, he is an above-average run blocker. More than willing in that department, Beyer will put his head down and win more matchups than not, which could give him some potential value down the road.
Chances of making final roster (1-10 scale): 5
Despite his limitations, why has Beyer been given one of the best scores to make the team in this undrafted spotlight series? Simply due to lack of depth at the position.
We know that Fant and Okwuegbunam will be on the team, but the Broncos are going to keep at least three tight ends. That means that all Beyer would have to do to earn a spot is to beat out Saubert and Fort.
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In brief preseason action in 2019, Fort looked like a decent prospect but a torn ACL shut him down for the year and a re-aggravation of that injury cut his 2020 season short. So really, we don’t know what the Broncos have in him, if anything.
Saubert is playing with his sixth team in five seasons and for his career, has just 10 receptions, or less than Beyer did at Iowa.
There is a good chance that the Broncos will either add another veteran to compete with these guys or they will take the player between Saubert, Fort and Beyer that is the best in run blocking. Beyer could easily come out on top in that competition.
If he can make strides as a receiver during the summer and show that he can be useful in that area, he has a legitimate shot of being the team’s No. 3 tight end.
The Broncos have a rich history of undrafted free agents making the final 53-man roster, so there is no reason to believe that Beyer can’t be that guy this year.