5 Sleeper TEs Broncos Could Draft to Upgrade Offense

Even with Adam Trautman back, the Denver Broncos need more help at the tight end position.

The Denver Broncos have been looking for a quality starting tight end for several years. Despite investing in the position, with several veteran free agents like Owen Daniels or Chris Manhertz or drafting guys like Albert Okwuegbunam and Greg Dulcich, the Broncos have lacked a legitimate threat since Julius Thomas in 2014. 

This year's draft class is widely lauded as not overly talented or deep, but a handful of players with some upside could help bolster the room. Let's examine the names to know at tight end. 

A.J. Barner | Michigan

© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Pros

A genuinely talented blocking tight end who can be deployed inline or split out wide, Barner brings high-end upside as a quality second-string tight end at the NFL level. His hand placement and technical prowess as a blocker, both against the run and the pass, should garner attention from teams that like to run 12 personnel. 

Barner has long strides as a route runner and eats up a lot of space, and it’s apparent that he has enough juice to handle long-speed catch-and-run situations. He displays a great knowledge of how to sit in zone coverage and be a reliable pass catcher, showing smooth hands that pluck the ball relatively easily.

Cons

Barner has little experience, but his tape makes up for it. He isn’t quite polished as a route runner, typically used as a check-down option or as a reliable threat in the middle of the field to move the chains. 

Barner has some stiffness in his lower half that appears to cause a change of direction issues. Despite being a bigger player, he must show more physicality in contested catch situations. 

Michigan’s run-heavy offense highlighted Barner's blocking prowess but limited his opportunities to prove his worth as a pass-catcher, making his evaluation a bit of a projection.

My Grade: Round 4

Erick Trickel’s Big Board Position: No. 112

Tip Reiman | Illinois

© Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Pros:

Reiman is a hyperathletic Y-tight end who moves very well more a man with his immense stature (6-foot-5, 271 pounds). You can line him up wide, but his best work comes closer to the football as a bullying blocker in the run game. 

Reiman plays with good strength and leverage and can easily move defenders off their spot. He has good hip bend, which allows him to reposition easily and keep the rep in control. He does a great job presenting a big target over the middle of the field and sinks his hips well to run stop routes efficiently. 

Once he gets rolling downhill, Reiman is tough to bring down, adding a small amount of run after the catch ability.

Cons

Reiman isn't overly versed as a route runner and is stiff in his lower half. He turns like a battleship more than making precise cuts, allowing defenders to close space and put him in contested catch situations. 

Reiman has good speed (4.64-second 40-yard dash at the Combine), but it doesn't show on tape as he struggles to outrun defenders in man coverage. He brings good power as a blocker, but his hand placement and technique need refinement to maximize his potential as a professional.

My Grade: Round 4

Trickel's Big Board Position: No. 165

What happens next on the Broncos? Don't miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second, sign up for our free newsletter, and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily!

Erick All | Iowa

© Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

All shows great initial burst that he can use from all over the formation. His first step instantly places defenders in conflict and can quickly erase some angles in short quarters. He shows clean, smooth, and consistent hands as a pass catcher and some toughness at the catch point when things get congested. 

All uses good speed variation as a route runner to help create separation, but more nuance is needed there. As a blocker, the effort and consistency are there to be successful at the next level, and he does well to stay involved as the play continues to progress.

Cons

While the effort is there as a blocker, the play strength is not. All can easily get pushed around by bigger defenders, and his poor grip strength allows defenders to disengage quickly at the line of scrimmage. 

All is quicker than faster and struggles to create straight-line separation against man coverage, and he is practically non-existent as a vertical threat in the passing game. He works much better in short areas and will be limited to a check-down option at the next level. 

Although he can play from various positions in the formation, All will likely be best suited as a big slot receiver.

My Grade: Round 5

Trickel’s Big Board Position: No. 144

Ben Sinnott | Kansas State

© Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Pros

Sinnott is a multipositional tight end who can line up all over the formation, including as a fullback. He appears to bring solid blocking effort, especially coming as a lead blocker out of the backfield when digging out linebackers and safeties at the second level. 

A sneaky athletic player, Sinnott runs the seam well and shows fairly consistent hands as a pass catcher. He runs good routes with excellent burst in his change of direction ability and has enough juice to offer decent run after the catch ability.

Cons

Sinnott is light in his loafers and needs to bring much more physicality at the point of attack, especially when out in space. His hand placement is wonky, and his technique to reposition is lacking. 

Sinnot could also do well to add more mass to his base. Sometimes, on tape, it appears like he loses the football, or it creeps up on him, creating some frustrating drops and incompletions. He has good enough length, but he alligator arms some footballs in tight windows when he needs to go and pluck it out of the air.

My Grade: Round 6

Trickel’s Big Board Position: No. 187

Dallin Holker | Colorado State

© Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

Dallin Holker is a vertical seam shot threat that works well from the slot. He isn’t the biggest player at the position, but he shows good physicality at the catch point and has a nasty 'my ball' mentality that teams will love.

Holker has a massive catch radius and snatches the ball easily with his large hands. He controls his body well, runs good routes, and easily separates. While he could get more comfortable finding soft spots in zone coverage, Holker presents a good target and is highly reliable as a pass catcher.

Cons

Blocking is a non-factor with Holker, and he will limited to being a receiving option only at the next level. He lacks grit and toughness as a blocker, and his technique is unrefined.

While Holker has good enough speed to work at the college level, he must step it up to create separation against professional safeties. He allows defenders to close separation and create contested catch scenarios against zone coverage.

Grade: Round 7

Trickel’s Big Board Position: No. 184

Given the Broncos's need to find a true all-around player to pair with Dulcich, the best option for Denver is most certainly AJ Barner. His ability to line up attached to the line of scrimmage and be a dominating run blocker should catch Sean Payton's attention. With some sneaky receiving ability, Barner could become a low-end TE1 at the NFL level, but he will undoubtedly be a solid TE2 for any team in need. 

---

Follow Mile High Huddle on X/Twitter and Facebook.

Subscribe to Mile High Huddle on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts!