Is Greg Dulcich, Adam Trautman, or Albert Okwuegbunam the Broncos TE1? Fantasy Football Outlook

May 6, 2023

Who among Greg Dulcich, Adam Trautman, or Albert Okwuegbunam will be the starting tight end for the Denver Broncos? Who among them offers the best upside in fantasy football?

The Sean Payton era is underway in Denver after a disastrous 2022 campaign under Nathaniel Hackett. A new head coach means all of the unproven players will have a clean slate and the opportunity to earn playing time with a fresh set of eyes making roster and depth chart decisions.

The Denver Broncos tight end situation looks to be one of the toughest to navigate months before the 2023 NFL season kicks off, but with early fantasy drafts already happening, it's worth diving into the position battle.

Will the Broncos' starting tight end be Greg Dulcich, Adam Trautman, or Albert Okwuegbunam? Which player should you target in fantasy football? Let's dive in.

The Case for Greg Dulcich

Dulcich started his rookie season on Injured Reserve with a hamstring injury but made an immediate impact in his first NFL game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6. The UCLA product caught 33 passes for 411 yards and two touchdowns in a lifeless Denver offense but again landed on IR at the end of the season.

He was the clear starting tight end for the past regime, but a new staff could view things differently.

The Case for Adam Trautman

Denver acquired Trautman from the New Orleans Saints on Saturday. Denver sent pick No. 196 to the Saints in return for Trautman and a seventh-round pick. Trautman will now reunite with head coach Payton, who was part of the brain trust that used a third-round pick on the former Dayton Flyer back in 2020. Trautman has amassed 60 catches for 641 yards and four touchdowns over his three NFL seasons and showed flashes of upside, but never fully broke out.

The 26-year-old has familiarity with Payton and has a strong athletic profile and resume of production from college, meaning he should have an edge over Duclich and Albert O since he already knows the offensive system and how Payton likes to operate. That said, he has failed to make a significant impact for New Orleans through three seasons.

The Case for Albert Okwuegbunam

Albert O is an athletic freak at tight end with sub-4.5 speed at 250-plus pounds. He had a prolific career at Missouri before being selected in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft but was buried behind Noah Fant in the early part of his career.

He was a sleeper heading into the 2022 season but failed to make an impact, even while Dulcich was inactive early in the season. He finished the campaign with just 11 receptions for 121 yards and one touchdown. It's worth noting Payton drafted Trautman over him in 2020 while he was the New Orleans Saints' head coach. His career is not dead at just 25 years old, but time could be running out.

Which Broncos' Tight End Should I Draft?

Ultimately, the tight end rotation will likely be volatile and the target pecking order will be tough for one of the three tight ends to crack. If Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and Marvin Mims are all on the roster in Week 1, it's tough to endorse any of the tight ends as a weekly starter.

However, we may be able to assume Payton wasn't happy with the duo of Dulcich and Okwuegbunam since he felt the need to trade for Trautman, so one will have value, while the other may be relegated to the bench or as a pure three-tight end set player.

For now, Dulcich should be viewed as the top tight end in Denver, but buyer beware.

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