The tight end position in the Broncos’ passing game is like an onion. The more layers you peel, the more it stinks.
The Broncos are developing an offensive identity as a physical team that protects the football. Denver ranks 13th in rushing (124.1 yards per game) behind the revival of Javonte Williams and speed of Bo Nix.
You head to the mountains in a 4Runner. The Broncos head to the stadium in a BoRunner. He is a legitimate dual-threat quarterback — has been since high school — and yes, he is cool with that.
“I think it is a compliment if they give you credit for throwing the ball, too,” Nix said Wednesday. “I don’t think anybody wants to just be a running quarterback in the league. But it is a good tag. It is important. It’s tough (to defend).”
Critics have cooled on the offense because Denver has won four of five games and three straight on the road. Carolina offers another chance to show the Broncos can handle prosperity as Vance Joseph’s defenders figure to leave the field Sunday with pieces of Bryce Young’s jersey between their teeth.
Beating bad teams is an important step in no longer being a bad team. But the Broncos are not reaching the playoffs — there is a clear path with games remaining against Atlanta, Cleveland, Indianapolis and Las Vegas — without a balanced offense. They rank 29th in passing yards per game (169.9). When it comes to receivers, they don’t have a No. 1. When it comes to pass-catching tight ends, they have none.
The Chiefs, convinced they can three-peat, acquired DeAndre Hopkins for Patrick Mahomes. The Broncos act convinced they can compete, meaning they should trade for Cleveland’s David Njoku.
I would have preferred Bengals receiver Tee Higgins, but it is increasingly unlikely he will become available. And the Rams’ Cooper Kupp makes no sense given his age and injury history.
Broncos coach Sean Payton understands the Broncos need production from their tight ends. He believes they are close.
“It’s one of the quarterback’s allies because generally you get some of these coverages where they are not doubling the outside, but the individual matchups are in the triangle on the inside with the runner and the tight end,” Payton said. “There was one play (against the Saints), Bo was climbing (the pocket) and we just missed Lucas. So, we are one play away from not having to answer that question.”
He meant one trade away.
Njoku solves the Broncos offensive Sudoku. He fits each row, all the columns, checks every box. Give him the final nine games in Denver and he can deliver 35 catches, 350 yards and three touchdowns.
The last time the Broncos acquired a tight end during the season was in 2015 when they landed San Francisco’s Vernon Davis. They needed him to run seam routes for Peyton Manning. Instead, they only played seven quarters together because of Manning’s foot injury.
“It was hard because I didn’t have a lot of time to learn the playbook or have much time with Peyton,” Davis told The Post. “But it was an amazing experience winning a Super Bowl.”
Davis caught 20 passes for 201 yards. Njoku would sneeze those numbers. You are telling me he is not worth surrendering a fourth-round pick for? It’s not like Michigan’s Colston Loveland or Penn State’s Tyler Warren are going to be around when that draft pick comes due next spring.
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku is tackled by Houston Texans cornerback Steven Nelson during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Houston.(AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Njoku is 28 and due roughly $670,000 over the remainder of the season, making it possible for the Broncos to add him even with their salary cap constraints. He is under contract next year for $14.25 million, a figure that could be renegotiated as part of a contract extension.
Njoku does not have to be a rental, nor should he be viewed as one. The Browns should be willing to listen because it sure looks like they are tanking.
Njoku made the Pro Bowl last season. The Broncos practically made history. Few times have they been worse at tight end than in 2023. The sobering numbers: 39 catches, 62 targets, 362 yards, four touchdowns, 19 first downs. This season, they are on pace for 41 catches for 330 yards on 77 targets for no scores and 10 first downs.
Krull is an intriguing prospect but remains too raw to be trusted with a postseason berth hanging in the balance.
It’s impossible to overstate how much a functional tight end could help Nix’s development. Tight ends are big targets. They are open when they are covered. And with Nix’s ability to execute run-pass-options, the tight end is the perfect outlet in the middle of the field (Watch how Lamar Jackson uses Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews on RPOs).
As it stands, the Broncos’ tight ends represent a 12.2 percent target share, according to Sumer Sports data. There are 20 tight ends in the NFL with higher rates by themselves.
The position has been a problem for the better part of a decade, illuminated in 2022 when then-rookie Greg Dulcich, now a weekly healthy scratch, led the Broncos with 411 yards receiving.
Julius Thomas fell out of bed and into the end zone in 2013 and 2014 (24 touchdowns). Noah Fant fell down after he caught the football, but his production from 2019-21 represents the salad days (average of 57 catches, 635 yards, three touchdowns) compared to the current situation.
The Broncos have to understand their method of winning is not sustainable, placing too much stress on the defense. Their past at tight end does not have to be their future.
It’s time to take Nix off the tightrope and trade for a tight end.
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