Sean Payton didn’t exactly go out of his way to gush about his tight end room, but he did make one thing clear on Wednesday: he’s comfortable with where the Broncos stand heading into Week 1.
After practice, with Denver moving into full-speed prep for the opener, Payton pointed to a four-man group that now includes veteran starter Evan Engram, longtime favorite Adam Trautman, versatile Nate Adkins and rookie Dallen Bentley.
“I kind of like where we’re at," Payton told reporters. "I thought retaining [TE] Lucas [Krull] was important on the practice squad.
I like where that room’s at and as it pertains to any of these positions, you’re always still paying attention. The pro scouts [are] in charge with now writing these reports on these players that have just come into the league and then getting updated information on how they’re doing.
So that takes place with all the clubs.”
That’s the group Denver kept when it trimmed down to the NFL’s 53-man roster. Bentley grabbed the final spot, beating out fellow rookie Justin Joly, who was claimed by the Miami Dolphins after his release. The Broncos also brought back Krull on the practice squad.
Payton said on Aug. 31 that the two rookie tight ends were different players, and that Bentley had earned the nod.
"They are two different types of players," Payton said on Aug. 31, comparing Joly and Bentley. "If I was trying to explain, they’re entirely different type players, but we felt that Bentley earned that.”
For now, that looks like the setup Denver is sticking with. The one possible wrinkle is Taysom Hill, the former Saints tight end/quarterback Payton coached in New Orleans. But Payton didn’t sound like anything was close on that front.
“No updates, nothing," Payton said of Hill on Wednesday. "I would let you know if we had anything.
I talked to him at the [Pro Football] Hall of Fame, but it was really just with a group of people. Nothing new there.”
Bentley’s spot was far from guaranteed when draft weekend ended. He was the 256th overall pick, and the Broncos also waived three draft selections: Joly, linebacker Red Murdock and safety Miles Scott.
Still, Bentley made the case in camp and the preseason, especially as a blocker. He also won over his teammates, Engram included.
“It was well deserved," Engram said Wednesday of Bentley making the 53. "I thought that Dallen had an amazing camp.
I think I said it in a press conference earlier, as a rookie tight end, this offense is a lot to learn, and is a lot to pick up and is a lot to play fast with. I thought he did a great job, and I told him that it was well deserved.
The real work starts now. I just want to be any type of help I can be for him.
I’ve experienced a lot, and I enjoy passing down those experiences and give him the lessons before him may have to go through them.”
Bentley sits at the back end of the depth chart, which means some weeks he could be inactive depending on how Denver wants to attack. But he’s in the mix, and the Broncos clearly see him as a player worth developing - someone who can learn behind Trautman now and, eventually, grow into that kind of steady two-way role himself.
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