Finding Broncos: Two Tight Ends to Round Out the Position
The Denver Broncos signed Chris Manhertz to get their blocking tight end. Despite dealing with injuries, they have potential in the room with Greg Dulcich, who showed plenty of promise during his rookie season. There isn't a significant need at the position, but it is a strong draft class, and the Broncos should look to take advantage of that, even with the handful of picks they have.
Luke Schoonmaker | TE | Michigan
Pros
- Prototypical build with good mass and plenty of athleticism.
- He had a consistent role on special teams, where he did well.
- He proved to be a reliable receiver the last two seasons, despite only having 52 catches on 68 targets.
- He had some drops, but the drop percentage was low.
- Did well getting into the endzone with six touchdowns in the last two seasons.
- He is a fluid mover who can change direction exceptionally well, especially for his size.
- He has sound technique as a blocker and uses his frame and length quite well.
- He blocks with a good base and maintains proper footwork.
- He is an ultra-competitive player who loves to win his reps.
- There is enough to attack every level of the field, and he does well when tracking the ball.
- The attitude for tight ends as a blocker has to be there, and there are no doubts about it with Schoonmaker.
Cons
- There isn't much experience, with only 1,203 snaps played and 1,083 in the last two seasons.
- He struggles to secure catches when dealing with contact, with only three catches on 12 contested catch situations.
- There is plenty of size with Schoonmaker, but he has to utilize it better as a receiver and protect the catch point.
- Overall, the production is lacking, with almost all of it coming in the last two seasons.
- He isn't a creative runner after the catch and won't pick up a lot after the catch.
- There is a bad habit of being overly patient and not attacking the catch.
- He has to improve his strength to be more efficient as a blocker.
- There isn't a great route tree, even for a tight end.
Overview
Schoonmaker is an athletic tight end with plenty of room to grow as a player. While he isn't the most dynamic receiving prospect, there is enough to work as the second tight end. With his upside as a blocker, Schoonmaker would be ideal working as part of a duo with an athletic and dynamic receiving tight end.
Fit with Broncos
The Broncos would be a great fit for Schoonmaker. They have the dynamic receiving option in Greg Dulcich and have a well-built room to provide Schoonmaker time to develop in all aspects. He fits the scheme, and what they seem to be looking for, so there are no concerns.
© Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Brenton Strange | TE | Penn State
Pros
- There is a good size with a frame that can add more mass.
- He is a good athlete, testing out well at the NFL Combine.
- He has solid experience, with 31 starts over the last three seasons.
- He brings good versatility and can move about the formation.
- There is a physicality behind his game, and he looks to punish tacklers.
- The attitude and willingness as a blocker are there, which was enough to see success in college.
- His versatility can see him work in the slot and provide a quality boost as a blocker there.
- There is good acceleration to stretch the defense and open up coverage underneath.
Cons
- Not the smoothest with his change of direction, reflected in his agility testing.
- Drops were an issue in 2021, and he cut down on them in 2022, but the concern is if he can keep it down consistently.
- While there is potential as a blocker, the technique from top to bottom has to be completely reworked.
- His route running will have to improve with how poor it is, even for a tight end.
- His awareness is severely lacking, and he will miss blocks more often than you wish.
- His angles are consistently poor.
- There are questions about his ability to get separation against linebackers consistently.
- His transitioning from receiver to ball carrier isn't clean, and his play has a lag.
Overview
Strange is an extremely enticing prospect because he offers up a lot of versatility on offense. He is an ideal prospect to be a #2 in the unit, but there is enough room to be the top guy with his ability as a receiver and upside as a blocker.
Fit with Broncos
With the scheme the Broncos run, Strange is a good fit for what they want to do, and he fits with what they need and the personnel. While he isn't a great blocker right now, he can reach that point with the development the Broncos can give him without rushing him onto the field. Being able to provide that time is a good thing as it doesn't cement bad habits for a player. If Strange and Dulcich were paired and reached their potential, the Broncos would be in an excellent position.
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