The Denver Broncos head into the 2026 season with one of the NFL's most balanced rosters. From retaining key starters to adding wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, Denver has strengthened both sides of the ball. Yet ESPN analyst Mike Clay believes one position group still stands out as a concern.

According to a report by Clay, Aaron Schatz, and Seth Walder, the Broncos have one of the league's strongest offensive lines. Most of Denver's roster earned positive marks from Clay. The tight end room was the exception. He called it the team's biggest weakness, even after last year's additions.

"The Broncos look good on both sides of the ball, so I'll be picky and go after a position group that didn't improve as much as expected last season despite the addition of Evan Engram," Clay wrote.

Clay praised Denver's offensive line for its consistency, pointing out that the same five starters will return for a third straight season. He noted the unit has ranked among the league's best in both pass-block and run-block win rate over the past two years. Yet doubts brew in the tight end room.

"The veteran tight end played a career-low 42% of Denver's snaps and found the end zone once," Clay added. "The 32-year-old will compete with Adam Trautman, Nate Adkins, Lucas Krull, and rookie Justin Joly for snaps."

Engram's blocking limitations have been a recurrent problem the Broncos faced throughout the 2024 season. But the team made little progress in that area.

Although the blocking struggles were not unexpected, his receiving impact fell short of expectations, making it difficult for Denver's tight end unit.

Whether the tight end room proves to be a weakness will become clearer once training camp begins. Denver has already finalized its preseason schedule, giving fans their first look.

Broncos confirm 2026 training camp schedule

The Broncos have officially announced their 2026 training camp schedule ahead of the new season.

Rookies will report on July 22, while veterans are due to arrive on July 28, as per Broncos Wire. The first public practice is scheduled for July 31 after the team's ramp-up period.

Denver will host 14 open training camp practices, with attendance limited to around 1,000 fans per session because construction work tied to the $175 million project at Broncos Park is still ongoing. Free tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, with fans allowed to claim up to four tickets for two practice dates.

Training camp will serve as an important step toward the Broncos' regular-season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 14.

What do you think about the weakness in the tight end position as highlighted by the analyst? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Evince Das

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar