Who Will Emerge at the Tight End Position for the Denver Broncos in 2016?

The Denver Broncos are going to have a different looking offense in 2016. Last year with quarterback Peyton Manning, the team wasn’t able to run head coach Gary Kubiak’s offense true to form. With Manning retired, the full Kubiak system should be in place for the Broncos.

The Kubiak scheme is built off the zone-blocking system up front. The offensive linemen move in unison laterally after the snap and cutback lanes will open up for the running back. The emphasis on the rushing attack leads to play-action passing opportunities as the game goes on.

When asked to pass, the quarterback in the Kubiak system is often finding the tight end on underneath routes or sneaky out routes opposite the play side. More than other offenses in the league, the Kubiak system is known as being tight end-friendly. The tight end is going to be a primary receiver in this offense, and there will be multiple formations where two-tight end sets are used.

So who will emerge at the tight end position for the Broncos this year? Let’s examine the possibilities.

Virgil Green Finally Used More?

The Broncos picked up Virgil Green as a seventh-round pick in the 2011 NFL draft. That was the same year they spent a fourth-round pick on Julius Thomas. While Thomas eventually became a standout receiver for the Broncos, Green was in the background as a blocking tight end. When Thomas moved on in free agency to the Jacksonville Jaguars last year, there was an assumption that Green would play a larger role as a pass-catcher in 2015.

He did have a career-high 12 catches last season, but Green could have been used much more.

During his college days at Nevada, Green was known as a reliable receiver for his quarterback—Colin Kaepernick. Green entered the NFL as a prospect with good receiving ability but only marginal ability as a blocker. In the NFL, Green has worked diligently to become one of the best blocking tight ends in the league, but that ability as a receiver is still there.

This season, Green enters the offseason at the top of the depth chart.

“Every year I come in thinking I can be the guy. I always feel like I can do things in the pass game. My specialty is being a physical guy up front in the run game and the pass protection game.” Green emphasized, “I always come in thinking that I can be the guy in the pass game.”

This may be Green’s best chance to contribute as a receiver, and he knows that.

“I do feel that way,” Green said. “With O.D. (Owen Daniels) being gone there is a better chance. I really want to in training camp show that I can be not just the pass guy, but just the every-down tight end guy.”

The Team Likes Jeff Heuerman

In the third round of the 2015 NFL draft, the Broncos selected Ohio State tight end Jeff Heuerman. He didn’t post great stats for the Buckeyes, but Heuerman did catch the eye …

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