Broncos Retain Veteran Tight End Adam Trautman with 3-Year Deal

Agreement reached just before start of free agency period

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Denver Broncos have re-signed veteran tight end Adam Trautman to a three-year contract, sources have confirmed. Trautman was set to become a free agent on Monday, but the Broncos moved quickly to retain one of their key offensive players before the start of the free agency period.

Why it matters

Trautman has been a reliable and productive tight end for the Broncos since being acquired in a trade in 2023. Keeping him in the fold was a priority for the team as they look to build around new head coach Sean Payton's offense.

The details

The deal came together quickly, with the Broncos reaching out to Trautman on Sunday afternoon and hammering out an agreement within hours. Trautman was originally drafted by Payton in New Orleans in 2020 and has been the Broncos' most-used player at the tight end position since joining the team.

  • The Broncos and Trautman reached an agreement on Sunday afternoon.
  • Trautman was set to become a free agent at 10 a.m. on Monday.

The players

Adam Trautman

A veteran tight end who has been a key part of the Broncos' offense since being acquired in a trade in 2023.

Sean Payton

The new head coach of the Denver Broncos, who previously drafted Trautman when he was the head coach of the New Orleans Saints.

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What’s next

The Broncos will now turn their attention to the start of free agency, where they may look to add more pieces to support Trautman and their offense under the new coaching staff.

The takeaway

Retaining Trautman was an important move for the Broncos as they look to build a competitive roster under new head coach Sean Payton. Keeping their starting tight end in the fold was a priority, and they were able to get a deal done just before the start of free agency.