Broncos' Preseason Game Revealed Why Adam Trautman is TE1

When the Denver Broncos released their first depth chart last week, there wasn't much surprising, with the exception of one eyebrow-raising development. Adam Trautman was listed as the Broncos' No. 1 tight end.

The expectation was that the second-year Greg Dulcich would be TE1. But the spot was claimed by Trautman, and it came out in the wash that way in Arizona, too.

If the first preseason game is any indication, it may be significantly more challenging for Dulcich to take the top spot than most, including myself, initially assumed. Trautman saw 15 snaps as the Broncos' starter, which is the same number Dulcich garnered, though the latter was tasked with playing deep into the game.

Trautman made it clear why he is the top tight end. His versatility as a blocker and receiver was on display early. Dulcich didn't get targeted but managed to create some separation a few times and performed alright as a blocker, but overall, it wasn't enough. 

Trautman is a solid tight end who does well as a blocker and receiver, though he doesn't excel. Of all the tight ends on the Broncos roster, he is the most well-rounded and can be used to keep defenses guessing. 

Chris Manhertz is Denver's primary blocker at the position. He's one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL, but he doesn't offer much as a receiver. His role is clearly defined, so being listed as TE3 wasn't all that surprising. 

Dulcich, however, has tremendous upside to be a mismatch weapon as a receiver. On top of that, the coaches have often talked about him being the "joker" on offense, where he can be used from multiple spots. However, his blocking was a concern as a rookie, so he is sort of on the other end of the spectrum compared to Manhertz. 

Dulcich didn't offer a great showing during the first week of training camp. He struggled to adjust to the new scheme, and the offense as a whole was disjointed. However, Trautman looked right at home and did well as a blocker and receiver while the offense got up to speed. 

Dulcich looked much better during the second week of camp. He showed up as a receiver, and his blocking looked more consistent. Trautman was still Trautman and showed his reliability in both aspects. 

There is more upside with Dulcich as a receiver, but this will be a run-heavy team. Dulcich has to show improvements as a blocker, and that reason alone is probably part of the reason Trautman is the top tight end. If Dulcich can deliver more consistency, he may overtake the spot. 

That said, each of the top three tight ends offers something unique to the offense. On the spectrum of what you want from tight ends, the Broncos have Manhertz on one side, Dulcich on the opposite, and Trautman in the middle. 

Sean Payton and the offense can rotate these tight ends depending on down, distance, and situation. So, in the end, who the Broncos' top tight end is doesn't matter much. They will all see the field and will see it a lot.