Broncos Rebuffed In Trade Request For Star Tight End

The Denver Broncos are in the middle of a lot of trade rumors right now, and most of them have been about getting a running back. Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts has been prominently mentioned, along with Tony Pollard of the Tennessee Titans and Derrick Henry of the Baltimore Ravens. although the latest on Henry has him being pulled from the trade market. 

The Broncos have also been looking for offensive line depth or help, but now there’s another position that’s in play. According to a report from Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, the Broncos have been rebuffed in their request to put together a trade for Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride. 

McBride is 26 years old and under contract through 2029, so it’s not exactly surprising that the Cardinals see him as part of their future. McBride is a lesser-known name who’s either a star or one in the making, depending on your perspective. 

What makes this even less surprising is that McBride played extremely well against the Broncos two weeks ago in the their Week 7 meeting in Arizona. Denver won the game by a comfortable margin, 30-16, but McBride torched the Broncos secondary with 10 catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. 

That gave Broncos coach Sean Payton a chance to see what he’s missing, as current tight end Evan Engram has just 13 catches for 136 yards, and he’s been one of several underperformers for an offense that’s struggled. 

Payton was effusive in his praise for McBride, saying the tight end was one of the best in the move/joker role that’s always been a favorite of the Broncos coach. 

Denver has the draft capital to pull if a trade if Arizaona was willing, but the Cardinals think they’re still in the hunt in the NFC West, as they’re just one game behind the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks in a division that’s been surprisingly weak so far. 

The Cadinals also just swapped quarterbacks, inserting backup Gardner Minshew in for Jacoby Brissett, and the result was a dose of so-called “Minshew magic” as the Cardinals came from behind to post a 33-30 win over the Dallas Cowboys. 

They’re probably engaged in a bit of delusional thinking about a possible playoff berth, but it’s understandable given that Arizona has yet another new coach in Mike Lafleur. 

As for Payton and the Broncos, he’s reportedly inquired about several other tight ends, so stay tuned for news on that front between now and the trade deadline on Tuesday.