Analyst Predicts New Role for Broncos TE in Sean Payton Offense

Throughout the Denver Broncos' losing 2022 season, quarterback Russell Wilson never found the optimal chemistry with his pass catchers. When Sean Payton begins to review the tape of where his nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback came unstuck, the head coach is sure to notice a few positive building blocks.

While Payton will be keen to put his own stamp on the roster, the Broncos' lack of draft capital will require that he max out the abilities of the personnel he's inheriting. When Broncos.com caught up with well-respected ESPN analyst Greg Cosell at the NFL Combine, he put his finger on one such holdover piece he expects to thrive in Payton's new offense — second-year tight end Greg Dulcich.

"One player I really like — and I'm curious to see how he gets deployed in Sean's offense — is Greg Dulcich," Cosell told DenverBroncos.com. "I think he's a really intriguing player. I think he's got three-level ability. I think that he's a really interesting player that could be a multiple-location player within your formations. He can stretch the seam, he can run vertical routes. I think in some ways — even though he's a tight end and this player I'm going to mention was a wide receiver — for Sean, I think that he's almost in the Sean system like a Marques Colston. I think he could be kind of like that guy, and I think he's a really intriguing guy."

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Dulcich missed seven games in 2022, and that's on top of missing most of the offseason program, but he still clocked 33 catches for 411 yards and two touchdowns. That production makes it feel like he was just scratching the surface.

Payton will probably like what he sees in Dulcich's prototypical NFL height/weight/sped combination of traits. In New Orleans, Payton always managed to incorporate big-bodied receivers into his game plans with massive success, so it's possible he could be thinking of making Dulcich a hybrid option with which to attack opposing defenses.

That will involve Dulcich learning his second new scheme in as many years, but the football intelligence and leadership skills he showcased as a rookie has him well-poised to do just that. Indeed, Wilson gushed over Dulcich and their burgeoning chemistry late las season.

"I think Dulcich is going to have a lot of great moments," Wilson said last October, "and I can’t wait to have a lot of great moments together.”

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