With the addition of rookie tight end Greg Dulcich in the third round of the draft, Okwuegbunam may find himself sharing duties at the position in 2022, Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Though Okwuegbunam's starting tight end position is likely secure at this point, the addition of Dulcich through the draft could certainly cut into the veteran's playing time next season. Okwuegbunam became poised to be the Broncos' starting tight end with the departure of Noah Fant to Seattle as part of the deal to acquire Russell Wilson. Dulcich, however, caught the eye of head coach Nathaniel Hackett as an impact player. "When you have a guy that can stretch the field like he can, it's really exciting," Hackett said of the UCLA product. Regardless of how the tight end pecking order plays out in 2022, the arrival of Wilson at quarterback will likely help to elevate the fantasy production of the entire Denver pass-catching group.
Albert Okwuegbunam Poised for larger role
With Noah Fant slated to head to the Seahawks in the looming Russell Wilson trade, Okwuegbunam currently profiles as the Broncos' top option at tight end, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The 2020 fourth-rounder is coming off a 2021 season in which he hauled in 33 of his 40 targets for 330 yards and two TDs in 14 games. With Fant, who saw 90 targets in 16 contests last year, out of the equation, Okwuegbunam seems poised for an uptick in work this coming season, but Kosmider suggests that the Broncos could bring in some tight end competition via free agency and/or the draft. In any case, the anticipated addition of Wilson does boost the fantasy prospects of the team's skill players, a context that gives Okwuegbunam some sleeper appeal, though to what degree depends on how the team's TE depth chart ultimately shakes out in the coming months.
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