Zach Ertz is back on the market, and the timing lines up neatly for the Broncos.
Denver already knows what the veteran tight end can do when he gets rolling against a good defense. In a Monday night matchup with the Broncos last season, Ertz piled up 10 catches for 106 yards on 13 targets, producing his most receptions and yards in a regular season game since 2019.
Now Ertz is a free agent in 2026 and wants to play this season after spending the last two years with the Commanders. He has already built a résumé full of big games, and he still looks like one of the more complete tight ends in football. That is exactly why the Broncos should be eyeing him as their next free agent move.
After tearing his ACL last season, three-time Pro Bowl TE Zach Ertz officially has been cleared for all football activities and wants to play this season. He was at Stanford today catching balls from his college QB, Andrew Luck. Ertz is expected to be ready to sign in mid-August.… pic.twitter.com/Oihgg6zFrd
- Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 5, 2026
The Broncos have spent early camp hearing buzz about Evan Engram bouncing back at tight end, but once the pads came on, that conversation cooled off fast. Ertz may fit Sean Payton’s offense better anyway, especially with Denver leaning more on 11 personnel and asking more from tight ends as blockers.
That position has not exactly been a source of confidence. Aside from a few strong early camp days from Engram, there has been very little noise out of the Broncos’ tight end room lately. Maybe that changes, but the concern is real after last season, when Denver had one of the least productive tight end groups in the NFL as a receiving unit.
Payton also has reason to remember what Ertz did to his team. The veteran’s strong game against Denver last year was especially frustrating because it came right after the Broncos’ bye week, and the Commanders’ 276 passing yards were the second-most Denver allowed all season.
There is also a staff connection in place. Vance Joseph coached with Arizona and crossed paths with Ertz during that time.
The Broncos have only made one free agent addition all offseason, safety Tycen Anderson. For a team that did swing big in the trade market for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, that lone free agent signing doesn’t exactly scream all-in for 2026.
But Ertz would make sense as a veteran answer for Bo Nix, giving Denver a reliable safety valve in the passing game. With Adam Schefter reporting that Ertz is expected to be ready to sign in mid-August, the Broncos have a real chance to add another proven piece before preseason closes in.
And if Denver is deciding between Evan Engram and Zach Ertz for this season, the answer seems pretty clear. The Broncos cannot afford for tight end to become a weakness again with so much on the line.
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Broncos Camp Is Producing Surprise Names Fans Need To Watch
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The same theme has shown up elsewhere, where Butler, Austin, York, Bryant and Fresch have each managed to stand out in their own way. None of them can afford to relax as roster decisions get tighter, but that is exactly what makes this stretch of camp so interesting for Denver: the competition is not just sorting out the obvious starters, it is creating real pressure on the fringe spots and forcing the coaching staff to take a harder look at players who were easy to overlook in June. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Avoided A Bigger Jaylen Waddle Scare At The Right Time
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Sean Payton indicated the concern is a strain, and the plan is to avoid pushing it into something more troublesome. The Broncos are expecting Waddle to be back at practice in the next few days, which should ease the tension around a player who is important enough to merit patience, especially this early in the process. [Read more 🡒]
Bo Nix Is Fueling A Broncos Dream Fans Can Finally Feel
Bo Nixs return to Broncos training camp has offered a reminder of why the organization still believes its long-term outlook can rise with him. Coming back from the broken ankle he sustained in the AFC Divisional Game, the quarterback is reportedly showing signs of progress in both his confidence and his command, and Albert Breers camp report painted a picture of a player settling back into the role Denver has been waiting for him to fully own. The Broncos have spent enough time searching for stability at the position to know how much that kind of development matters.
Breer also noted that Nixs arm strength appears to be trending in the right direction, and that growth is showing up in the way he is handling different kinds of throws as he works back into form. There is a clear sense that Denvers setup for 2026 could be promising if Nix keeps moving this way, especially with the coaching structure giving him room to continue developing as a leader. The important part now is whether that progress keeps building once the real pressure of the season returns. [Read more 🡒]