Denver Broncos sign tight end Nick Vannett on a two-year deal

By Mike Brez March 21, 2020 0 Comment

The Denver Broncos have signed tight end Nick Vannett to a two-year deal. He will bring run blocking to the backup tight end position for Denver.

The Denver Broncos expanded their tight end room by signing tight end, Nick Vannett. The former third-round pick will join 2019 first-round pick Noah Fant, Jeff Heuerman, Troy Fumagalli, and Jake Butt in Denver. Signing Vannett likely pushes Heuerman off the roster saving the Broncos $3,750,000. The Seattle Seahawks traded Vannett to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a fifth-round pick in 2019. Denver signed Vannett to a two-year, $5.7 million deal.

Source: The #Broncos have signed former #Steelers and #Seahawks TE Nick Vannett on a 2-year deal.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 21, 2020

Vannett’s best season statistically was in 2018 with Seattle hauling in 29 receptions for 269 yards and three touchdowns. He started seven games in 2019, one with Seattle and six with Pittsburgh. Due to injuries, Vannett was thrown onto the field for the Steelers, where he caught 13 passes for 128 yards.

Standing at 6’6, 261-pounds, Vannett has excellent size for the tight end position. Coming out of Ohio State, he was drafted by the Seahawks in 2016. During his five seasons in the NFL, Vannett has 61 receptions, 591 yards, and four touchdowns. His specialties come more as a run blocker than as a pass-catching threat, which is what Denver brought him in to do.

Nick Vannett’s role in Denver

Vannett will replace Heuerman most likely as the “Y” tight end to help block for running backs, Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay. Denver acquired former Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon on Friday afternoon. Gordon signed a two-year, $16 million contract.

Nick Vannett with a key block to seal the edge and let Rudolph get off the throw on the TD to Diontae Johnson. pic.twitter.com/d0GvpyIReX

— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) October 1, 2019

Noah Fant will remain focused on playing more of a receiving option. While the Broncos had their pass-catching tight end locked down, they needed an upgrade over Heuerman to backup Fant. Vannett will lineup inline while Fant will find most of his production coming out of the slot.

The Broncos have five tight ends on the roster as of right now. Jake Butt has suffered three ACL tears and hasn’t played since early in 2018. The former 2017 fifth-round pick will have a competition in camp. Vannett is the sixth player the Broncos have brought in via trade or free agency this offseason.

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