5 Denver Broncos free agent targets at the tight end position

Denver Broncos free agent TE target no. 3: OJ Howard, Buccaneers

Back before the 2017 NFL Draft, OJ Howard was one of my personal favorite prospects in the entire class.

Every game I watched of his at Alabama seemed better than the last.

Not only did Howard’s athletic traits pop off the tape, but he was a punishing and advanced blocker at Alabama even without a 265-pound frame.

In his first two seasons in the NFL, it appeared as though Howard was on a trajectory for superstardom, averaging over 16 yards per reception and 11 touchdowns in his first 24 NFL games.

Unfortunately, injuries played a major role in a diminished role for him with the Bucs, and Tampa Bay wound up pushing him down the depth chart with the 2020 acquisition of Rob Gronkowski.

Now, Howard is slated for free agency after a bit of a bounce-back year in 2021 in which he caught only 14 passes, but appeared in all 17 games. The latter is the more important statistic, at this point in time.

Now, the Denver Broncos have brought in Ben Steele as an assistant coach on the offensive side of the ball, specifically on the offensive line. Steele was the Buccaneers’ tight ends coach in 2017 and 2018 when Howard was playing his best football, so there’s an obvious connection there I think could lead to a free agent match.

Speaking of Ben Steele, he was also the Atlanta Falcons’ tight ends coach in 2020, so maybe Hayden Hurst is an option in Denver as well.

For now, however, I would consider OJ Howard — who is only 27 — the top free agent target at tight end for the Broncos with his combination of athleticism, coaching connections, prior production, and upside.