ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Greg Dulcich is a superior receiver as a tight end, but the position demands more.
Chris Manhertz is a terrific blocker as a tight end, but the position is most effective when a receiving threat is part of the skill package.
Adam Trautman may not be the receiving threat of Dulcich, or the dominant blocker of Manhertz, but he's pretty good at both receiving and blocking.
Thus, Trautman is listed as the No. 1 tight end on the first depth chart released Wednesday by the Denver Broncos for the 2023 season.
“One thing interesting about this tight end group, there’s some clear roles that you can see, strengths and weaknesses that these players have,'' Payton said following camp practice Wednesday. "Adam’s the one guy out here that does a solid job blocking, gives you some flexibility within the route tree.
"Chris Manhertz is someone obviously we’re comfortable throwing to but man he’s really good blocking the D gap. Dulcich is someone who can really threat (in passing game). So you’ve got these different traits for different … So look we’ve got to put together a depth chart. And then we’ve got to give it to you guys and then I got to answer questions, Why did you put him first?’’
Know this about Payton's affinity for Trautman: In 2020 when he was still head coach of the Saints, Payton traded his fourth-, fifth-, sixth- and seventh-round draft picks to Minnesota for the right to draft the tight end from Dayton with the second-to-last pick in the third round.
Payton indicated Monday the initial depth chart is subject to change.
“We have to, so it starts with that,'' Payton said Monday of his first depth chart as Broncos' head coach. "Just understand, we can’t write it in pencil, but it’s in pencil.”
Other notable listings on the Broncos' first depth chart:
*The starting safety position opposite Justin Simmons has veteran Kareem Jackson OR Caden Sterns. It's been Sterns who has taken the majority of first-team reps during the offseason practices and training camp but Jackson was the starter the previous four years.
*Jonathan Harris, a part-time player for the Broncos since 2019, is listed as a starting defensive lineman along with Zach Allen and D.J. Jones. Harris may be listed with the No. 1 defense in part because veteran nose tackle Mike Purcell is on the team's non-football injury list.
*Second-round rookie receiver Marvin Mims Jr. is No. 1 at both the kickoff and punt return spots. Montrell Washington, the Broncos' returner last year, is currently No. 2 behind Mims at both kickoff and punt return. Mims is also listed as a No. 2 receiver behind Jerry Jeudy while Brandon Johnson is the backup to Courtland Sutton.
*Cam Fleming is listed No. 2 at both left tackle behind Garett Bolles and right tackle behind Mike McGlinchey.
*At running back, Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine are 1-2 as expected, but it's notable that Tyler Badie is No. 3 followed by veteran Tony Jones Jr. at No. 4 and undrafted rookie Jaleel McLaughlin is No. 5.
*Undrafted rookie Nate Atkins is listed as the No. 4 tight end; veteran Albert Okwuegbunam is No. 5.
A look at the Broncos' entire depth chart:
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