Broncos Dropped the Ball at One Position This Offseason
Broncos Dropped the Ball at One Position This Offseason
Let's hope this doesn't come back to haunt the Denver Broncos in 2026. Erick Trickel|
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Denver BroncosThe Denver Broncos have done a fine job of building their roster and making calculated additions, with one exception. After multiple years of poor tight end play, the Broncos decided to largely run it back, with two late-round draft picks as the only offseason additions.
The Broncos dropped the ball on improving their tight end room this year, and at this point, the free-agent market has dried up, so if they want to improve, it will have to come via trade. Denver could have had an opportunity in the early part of free agency, but decided to re-sign Adam Trautman, Lucas Krull, and Nate Adkins instead of exploring other options.
Trautman, who has some of the NFL's worst blocking metrics among tight ends over the last three years, was re-signed for three years at $17 million, with $9.5 million guaranteed. His deal basically cements him in Denver for two years.
Missed Opportunities
Charlie Kolar and Daniel Bellinger, both of whom are better blocking tight ends than Trautman, signed three-year deals in the offseason, with Kolar getting $24.3 million and Bellinger getting $24 million. Denver saved $7 million in total by sticking with Trautman.
However, Kolar and Bellinger are more likely to prove themselves worth the cost. The Broncos could rue the Trautman re-signing, but hey, at least he's a Sean Payton guy.
Now, one reason for the Broncos' relative inactivity in free agency was their aim to protect their projected compensatory picks in the 2027 NFL draft. They are currently expected to get a fourth- and a seventh-round pick for the losses of defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers and safety P.J. Locke, respectively.
Meanwhile, Kolar will net the Baltimore Ravens a sixth-round comp pick, but the New York Giants canceled out their projected sixth by signing someone.
Had the Broncos spent that extra $7 million to get Kolar or Bellinger, they would’ve canceled out the seventh-round compensatory pick for Locke. The level of play Kolar and Bellinger would bring is worth the extra money and the loss of that compensatory pick, as a seventh-rounder is unlikely to even stick around in the NFL beyond three seasons.
Realistic Expectations For the Rookies
Justin Joly and Dallen Bentley are solid prospects as fifth- and seventh-round picks, respectively, but tight end is a position that takes time to adjust to the NFL. While Joly's receiving ability could be useful this season, he and Bentley have a long way to go as blockers.
After watching how many runs were blown up in 2025 due to poor tight-end blocking, the Broncos missed an opportunity by not investing more to improve their blocking at the position. The easiest way to do that would have been by signing Kolar or Bellinger, but I digress.
The Broncos could’ve stuck with Trautman with an eye on a blocking tight end in the draft, but the NFL saw the value in blocking tight ends this year, both with contracts and with draft picks. This led to the best blocking tight ends being drafted between the late second round and the middle of the third.
If part of the Broncos' plan was to sit by and wait for the draft to improve their blocking, that just means they were even more remiss. The draft is unpredictable, and you can’t bet on it falling the way you want to, especially when you don’t properly address a significant issue in free agency in the hope of fixing it in April.
The Takeaway
Denver dropped the ball at tight end, especially in the blocking aspect. Don’t be surprised if blocking tight end is once again a serious need for the Broncos in 2027.
Hopefully, the Broncos capitalize on their opportunities for improvement next time around.
Published 32 minutes ago
ERICK TRICKELErick Trickel is a senior editor at Denver Broncos On SI, with an emphasis on scouting and covering the NFL draft. Erick has been with the website since 2014, and co-hosts the Building The Broncos and Dove Valley Deep-Divers podcasts on Mile High Huddle.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
