The Broncos have been poking around the tight end market ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, and one of the names they checked on was a big one: Arizona Cardinals star Trey McBride.
Denver is sitting alone in first place in the AFC West at 6-2, but the production from Evan Engram hasn’t matched the team’s spot in the standings. Through eight games, the starting tight end has 13 catches for 136 yards and one touchdown. He also came up empty in last week’s 28-24 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, finishing without a reception on three targets.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Saturday on X, formerly Twitter, that Denver had reached out about McBride as part of a trade-deadline update he co-wrote with Ian Rapoport.
McBride’s numbers explain why he would be such an attractive target. He leads the NFL with 66 receptions on 86 targets this season after earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2025. He also put together a strong showing against Denver in Week 7, catching 10 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos’ 30-16 win in Glendale.
There’s also the homecoming angle. McBride grew up in Fort Morgan as a Broncos fan and played at Colorado State, which would make a move to Denver especially notable.
Arizona, though, has shown it is willing to deal in the right situation without being eager to move McBride. The Cardinals already sent quarterback Jacoby Brissett to the Baltimore Ravens, a sign that their deadline approach depends on who’s involved.
The Denver Broncos have checked in around the league on tight ends, going so far as to ambitiously -- and some would say outrageously -- check on Cardinals star Trey McBride, who is from Fort Morgan, Colorado, and played at Colorado State. The Cardinals made it very clear they… https://t.co/fz5M8XuzSF pic.twitter.com/7M5uZb4uKo
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 7, 2026
According to the report, Denver shifted its attention elsewhere after Arizona turned down the inquiry. The story does not say the teams discussed compensation or that the Broncos made an actual offer for McBride.
Engram’s contract runs out after this season, so the Broncos’ search for help at tight end carries both an immediate and longer-term angle as Tuesday’s November 10 deadline gets closer.
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