Will Adam Trautman’s role be impacted with the changes to the tight end room?
Adam Trautman may not be the kind of tight end that lights up the stat sheet, but he is an important contributor to what Sean Payton wants to do with this offense. He is a smart and clean player who hardly costs his team any penalty yards, he’s a solid blocker, and the run game is made better with him on the field.
Though he only had 13 catches last season, he made them count, averaging 14.5 yards per catch with eight of them going for first downs. He also had two touchdown catches, those coming against the Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts.
Player Profile
Height: 6’5” | Weight: 253 pounds | Age: 28 years old
Experience: 5 years | College: Dayton
Photo by Kevin Langley/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
How he fits with the Broncos
Even with the addition of Evan Engram, Trautman’s role won’t change much at all. Engram plays little as a on-ball tight end, and likely will not be looked to as a blocker. Trautman is the only one of the roster (besides Nate Adkins, but they mostly use Adkins as a fullback type) who can block. He will be the one Payton calls on to work along side the offensive line. I highly doubt Engram will be used on any swipe or wham blocks.
I can see his role in the pass game maybe diminish slightly, and that’s due to their receiving corps getting quite the boost in talent this offseason. He’ll still be a redzone threat at times though.
Final word
I think Adam Trautman will be a staple on this Denver Broncos roster for years to come. He brings something to the table that most tight ends are unable to bring, and he is a pretty solid pass catcher, serving as a decent safety blanket for Bo Nix. And while he might not have a premium roster spot, there is a need for a guy like him for whatever type of offense this team will run, let alone the offense Payton employs.