Positional Analysis for the Denver Broncos: Tight-end
By Joe Morrone
Oct 20, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Denver Broncos tight end Julius Thomas (80) reacts to his touchdown reception with tight end Virgil Green (85) against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
No position for the Denver Broncos, with the possible exception of the offensive line, is likely going to go through more change than the tight-end spot. The three top players at the position are all free agents and it’s quite possible that all three could be gone once free agency opens in March.
The biggest question obviously surrounds the future of Julius Thomas. There’s no denying that Thomas is one of the best receiving tight-ends in the game and his athletic ability makes him a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. However the Broncos are going to have a difficult time keeping him and, in my opinion, they should let him walk.
There are three reasons for this starting with the fact that Thomas is going to command a lot of money on the open market, and there are numerous teams who are going to jump at the chance to throw that money at him. The Broncos have too many other priorities to spend that much money on a tight-end who has a couple of glaring shortcomings.
As great as he can be, Thomas has had trouble staying healthy. He missed a couple of games in 2013 and multiple games last season. In addition to the games Thomas missed in 2014, he struggled after he returned. Committing the kind of money it would take to keep Thomas, who has already said he will not take less money to stay in Denver, would be too big of a risk.
Secondly, Thomas blocks about as well as I do in the running game and that’s not going to fly under Gary Kubiak. The Broncos are going to run the football in 2015 and in this offense, everyone is required to block. Thomas has never shown the willingness to work at his blocking. He’s a great talent and it may turn out to be a mistake but the Broncos should and probably will thank Thomas for his contributions, and wish him well.
Now Virgil Green is a different story, the Broncos should do everything in their power to re-sign him. If you just look at raw numbers of Thomas and Green, you are probably thinking that I have lost my mind. However, Green is a much better fit for a Kubiak offense and he’s going to cost a lot less money.
Green might be the best blocking tight-end in the NFL and he played in the zone blocking scheme that the Broncos will now employ while at the University of Nevada. Make no mistake, Kubiak will take one look at Green on film and demand that John Elway find a way to get a deal done.
Green is also an underrated receiver and would be productive in the system that the Broncos are going to run in 2015. It will feature a ton of play action and Green is going to be wide open in the flat and down the seam after faking a block. He was underutilized by the former offensive staff but that won’t be the case now. Green is exactly what Kubiak looks for in a tight-end; a superior blocker who can also catch the ball.
Then there’s this, Green is a team player and the team’s success is more important to him than his own. As great as Thomas can be, there are some who question his commitment. There are even some who believe that Thomas could have played in a couple of the games he missed but did not want to reinjure his ankle with free agency on the horizon. I don’t know if I believe that but I do believe that Green is about winning, and that’s the type of attitude the Broncos should pay for.
Jacob Tamme has been a good soldier, always there when the Broncos need him and always a professional. He could very well return to the Broncos on a team friendly contract to provide depth and leadership at the position. The market probably will be limited for Tamme and that might work in the Broncos favor, provided they want to keep him.
Even if the Broncos were able to re-sign both Green and Tamme, they would need to address the spot in both free agency and the draft. There was speculation at the Senior Bowl that the Broncos were extremely interested in Clive Walford from the University of Miami. Walford displayed excellent hands, ran precise routes and is an above average blocker. It depends how high he rises but he could be an option for the Broncos.
The best free agent option would appear to be Owen Daniels who played for Kubiak both with the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens. Daniels is a little older but understands the offense and would be a great mentor to both Green, and a rookie tight-end.
The tight-end position is going to look much different for the Broncos in 2015 but there is one thing we know now. If a tight-end can’t block, they won’t be playing in Denver.