The Denver Broncos continued their run of retaining key core players as they signed tight end Adam Trautman to a three-year deal worth a total of $17 million, according to Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post. The deal came together quickly yesterday, according to Gabriel, and it came just hours before Trautman would have hit free agency this morning.
Trautman started his Broncos career as a backup tight end when the Broncos traded for him back in 2023, but he’s been improving and moving up the ranks steadily since then. He actually played more snaps that Evan Engram at tight end, with Engram being a disappointment as he was unable to fill the “joker” role when coach Sean Paton and GM George Paton signed him to a two-year deal with $16.5 million guaranteed last season.
Trautman caught 20 passes for 195 yards an a touchdown in 2025, but receiving isn’t his strong suit. He’s been targeted more, but Gabriel said Payton commented on his production as a receiver when the tight end had just 20 receptions going into the season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers.
“I said it to him — I love him, but that’s what he averages a year,” Payton joked after the Broncos’ win.
The tight end has become a Payton favorite, having played for every one of his six seasons with the Denver coach, and Payton originally moved a series of Day 3 draft picks to move up and get Trautman.
The Broncos also retained tight end Nate Adkins, who was a restricted free agent, according to Gabriel. The agreement was a one-year deal with terms unknown, but the RFA tender for Adkins was believed to be just under the market number of $3.52 million that was set for 2026.
Denver now has three tight ends under contract, but it’s unlikely that they’re done with the depth chart at that position just yet. The team could move on from Engram, but Gabriel added that they’d only save about $4 million if they cut him while incurring a charge of over $10 million in dead cap money.
Payton badly wants to fill that “joker” slot to make the offense more versatile, and having a more explosive tight end would go a long way toward dealing with the offensive inconsistency that helped prevent the Broncos from going all the way to the Super Bowl. The Broncos could use a high draft pick on a tight end and bring in another free agent, as they’re built to win now and the time is right to go for broke at this position.