The Denver Broncos are predicted to sign a veteran tight end with more than 8,000 total receiving yards and 53 career touchdowns to give second-year quarterback Bo Nix another target to complement Courtland Sutton.
Should the Denver Broncos Add TE Zach Ertz in the Offseason?
According to PFSN’s Ben Rolfe’s article about 2025 NFL free agent predictions, “Zach Ertz would fill the Broncos’ need for a veteran pass catcher… At 34 years of age, he is only likely to be looking for a short-term deal on a team that can challenge in the postseason, which is a box the Broncos tick.”
After moving on from Russell Wilson and Jerry Jeudy following Denver’s frustrating 2023 season in which they missed the playoffs and the offense struggled, Broncos head coach Sean Payton snagged Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix at 12 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft and traded for New York Jets first-round draft pick Zach Wilson.
Nix won the starting job then impressed the league with his steadfast development over the course of 2024. There were growing pains, of course, but all signs pointed to Nix being a franchise quarterback and giving Sean Payton stability at the position.
While the top-ranked Broncos defense continued to keep the team in contention for most of the 2024 season, Nix not only managed the game, he made a difference. Though Nix ranked one slot below his predecessor (Russell Wilson) in PFSN’s 2024 QB Rankings, the one-time Auburn Tiger finished third in the AP’s Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.
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In Nix’s rookie season, most targets went to Courtland Sutton and Javonte Williams. The offense tallied the 10th most points scored league-wide but was slightly below average according to PFSN’s Offense Rankings.
The Broncos’ tight ends group was a non-factor for the most part. 26-year-old Lucas Krull led the group in targets with 23, while 27-year-old Adam Trautman had the most receiving yards with 188. That corps would benefit tremendously from a stalwart and mentor like 12-year veteran Zach Ertz.
Ertz is a 3-time Pro Bowler who had a renaissance with the Washington Commanders in 2024, thanks to AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels. In 2023, the former Philadelphia Eagles target had the worst output of his career with the Arizona Cardinals. After being placed on injured reserve, Ertz was waived and then signed to the Detroit Lions practice squad during their playoff run in January 2024.
The 2013 second-round draft pick received votes for AP Comeback Player of the Year in 2024, hauling in seven touchdowns (third most in his career for a single season) and seeing 91 targets, second only behind Terry McLaurin.
In signing Ertz, the Broncos offense gets an injection of dependable talent while also providing Nix with a security blanket in his sophomore season. With the addition of Ertz, Denver should expect an even more potent offense that can take the pressure to perform off the defense.
With Ertz’s ability to attract attention in the short passing game, the field should open up for more deep shots from Nix to Sutton, Mims, and crew. The AFC West remains one of the toughest divisions in the NFL, but Denver has to believe it’s better than a seven-seed come playoff time.