How the signing of Eric Saubert clarifies Denver’s tight end situation
With the signing of free agent Eric Saubert this week, the Broncos have clarified their tight end situation — even if the unit’s numbers remain low, especially compared to the team’s depth there entering last season.
Noah Fant projects to be one of Denver’s main offensive weapons in 2021 and is poised to take another step forward from the 62-catch, 673-yard, three-TD season he posted last year. And Albert Okwuegbunam, also capable of impact plays, will be the No. 2 at the position.
Okwuegbunam is coming off an ACL tear that ended his 2020 prematurely. A fourth-round pick out of Missouri, he was inactive for the first four games of his rookie season as he dealt with a bothersome hip. But he flashed potential with a solid performance against Kansas City in Week 7, and had his first TD in Week 8 against the Chargers.
Coach Vic Fangio said last week that Okwuegbunam may not be full-go when training camp starts in late July.
So, with Fant primed for more growth, and Okwuegbunam laden with potential once he’s fully healthy again, Saubert will be the team’s blocking tight end, filling the role that Nick Vannett held last season. A 2017 fifth-round pick by the Falcons, Saubert has 10 catches for 85 yards between 40 career games in Atlanta, Chicago and Jacksonville. The 6-foot-5, 253-pounder will also likely serve as a primary special teamer in Denver.
The Broncos also have Austin Fort under contract and agreed to terms with undrafted free agent tight end Shaun Beyer. The team is likely to add more depth at the position in the coming months, seeing as the Broncos had seven tight ends on the roster during last year’s training camp.
— Kyle Newman, The Denver Post
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