ENGLEWOOD, Colo — Back at the NFL Combine in late February, Denver Broncos’ general manager George Paton was asked what position other than quarterback would be the team’s priority as the offseason was about to begin.
“I don’t want to give all our needs but we need to solidify the tight end position,’’ Paton said in an interview Feb. 27 with 9NEWS. “Obviously, Dulcich has been hurt. But we need a weapon in the middle of the field. Felt like we missed that.”
Free agency came and went and while the Broncos re-signed starting tight end Adam Trautman and released blocking tight end Chris Manhertz, they did not add a receiving tight end.
The draft came and went without the Broncos adding a tight end.
When the Broncos opened their first OTA practice for media viewing Thursday, Greg Dulcich was still hurt with either a hamstring or foot injury, although head coach Sean Payton said the third-year, seldom-played tight end was close to returning.
Meanwhile, streaking down the seam, catching a pass about 20 yards down the middle, was the weapon George Paton may have been looking for. Lucas Krull.
A former hard-throwing, left-handed pitching prospect for the San Francisco Giants, Krull started getting serious about football a little later than most. He eventually entered the NFL as a 24-year-old, undrafted rookie for the New Orleans Saints in 2022.
For all you wise guys out there, Sean Payton had nothing to do with Krull’s signing in New Orleans. Payton was working for Fox television that year.
But the head coach is well familiar with Krull now.
“I thought he’s had a good week,’’ Payton said Thursday. “I said, ‘If you didn’t notice, everyone in the media was looking down at their rosters to see who 85 was.’ I said, ‘Someday soon, they’re going to know who 85 is.’ He’s looking sharp.”
Actually, the local media and Broncos fans became familiar with No. 85 last year. Signed away from the Saints to the Broncos’ practice squad in the week prior to the 2023 regular season, Krull was inactive for 10 of the first 11 games before getting a chance as the receiving tight end in the final six games.
Russell Wilson underthrew him in the end zone for an interception late in a game 12 loss at Houston where had the pass been a foot higher Krull may well have had his first NFL catch. Krull did have a nice 35-yard catch-and-run against the Chargers the following week and later a touchdown catch on Christmas Eve against New England.
At 6-foot-6, 260 pounds, Krull has the prototypical size of an NFL tight end but he still must perform day after day in practice to earn Payton’s trust.
Krull is not in a bad position, though. The talented Dulcich has been frequently sidelined with a chronic hamstring injury and, again, no bona fide receiving tight end was added this offseason.
Trautman is as solid as they come as the every-down tight end but Krull has a chance to be his receiving partner.
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