Broncos Agree to 3-Year Deal With Former Saints TE Adam Trautman

Trautman, a Sean Payton favorite, will remain in Denver after starting 38 games over the past 3 seasons.

Mar. 9, 2026 at 1:18am

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The Denver Broncos have reached a 3-year, $17 million contract with veteran tight end Adam Trautman, who previously played for the New Orleans Saints when Broncos head coach Sean Payton was the Saints' head coach. Trautman, a 2020 third-round draft pick, has started 38 of 51 games for the Broncos over the past 3 seasons, catching 115 passes for 1,228 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career.

Why it matters

Trautman has been a reliable and versatile tight end for the Broncos, and his familiarity with Payton's offense should help provide continuity as the Broncos look to build on their 2025 season. The Broncos value Trautman more than the $2.8 million annual market value projected by Spotrac, indicating he remains an important part of their plans at the position.

The details

The Broncos initially signed Trautman in free agency in 2023, and he caught 20 passes for 195 yards and 1 touchdown during the 2025 season. Trautman has a 55-587-6 receiving line for his Broncos career so far. He will have an opportunity to build on those numbers with a new 3-year contract.

  • The Broncos reached the agreement with Trautman on March 8, 2026, the eve of the NFL's legal tampering period.

The players

Adam Trautman

A veteran tight end who previously played for the New Orleans Saints when Broncos head coach Sean Payton was the Saints' head coach. Trautman has started 38 of 51 games for the Broncos over the past 3 seasons, catching 115 passes for 1,228 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career.

Sean Payton

The current head coach of the Denver Broncos, who previously served as the head coach of the New Orleans Saints when Trautman was drafted by the team in 2020.

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What they’re saying

“Sean Payton loves and trusts Trautman. No surprise he's back for many years.”

— Zac Stevens

“Trautman obviously wanted to stay in Denver and re-signing him makes sense as a trusted piece in the offense. Three years is interesting. Curious to see mechanics of the contract.”

— Luca Evans

What’s next

Free agency opens on March 11, and the Broncos may still look to add another tight end to the roster despite re-signing Trautman.

The takeaway

The Broncos' decision to re-sign Trautman to a 3-year deal highlights the value they place on his experience and familiarity with head coach Sean Payton's offense. While Trautman may not be the flashiest tight end, his reliable production and blocking ability make him an important piece of the Broncos' plans as they look to build on their 2025 season.