Broncos Warned Against Trying to ‘Force’ Issue After $16 Million Move

Evan Engram signed a two-year, $23 million contract ($16.5 million guaranteed) with the Denver Broncos in free agency. He addresses the Broncos’ need for a pass-catching threat for now, but Michigan’s Colston Loveland in the 2025 draft could fit long-term.

However, Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski believes the Broncos might be wiser to target another option at the position. That is, if that is the direction they choose to go.

Moreover, Sobleski believes Loveland is the one player Denver “must avoid.”

“[The] Broncos don’t need to force it,” Sobleski wrote on April 20. “Michigan’s Colston Loveland is the best all-around tight end in this year’s class. He did require offseason shoulder surgery, though, and he’s not necessarily the type of offensive weapon that Broncos head coach Sean Payton prefers. Penn State’s Tyler Warren may not be as good in-line as Loveland, but he’s more versatile from an alignment and receiving perspective.

“Besides, the Broncos can add more impactful weapons at running back or wide receiver once they’re on the clock in this year’s first round.”

Loveland offers more versatility – which would fit into what Payton wants from his “Joker” options – than given credit for. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked Loveland as TE2 and the No. 11 prospect of the class.

“Loveland was a versatile tight end … lining up primarily in the slot (47.6 percent of the time) and inline/wing (32.5 percent) as a junior,” Brugler wrote on April 9. “Loveland can line up anywhere on the field and win as a quarterback-friendly, multilevel receiving threat. He isn’t a liability as a one-pop, get-in-the-way blocker but will struggle to sustain or control NFL edge defenders.

“His dynamic movements, natural hands and football awareness should make him one of the primary targets in an NFL offense. His tools and upside are reminiscent of Zach Ertz.”

The last time the Broncos took a tight end in the first round of the draft was Noah Fant in 2019. The Broncos traded Fant to the Seattle Seahawks in 2022 for Russell Wilson. They cut Wilson in 2024 despite a historic $85 million dead cap.