OK, so $30 million doesn’t go as far as it used to in the NFL. But the Broncos didn’t spend that much to get a one-dimensional player in Daniel Graham.
Graham, whose five-year, $30 million contract includes $15 million in guaranteed money, is generally regarded as the best run-blocking tight end in the business. Question is, how often will the Broncos use him in the passing game?
Answer: More often than you might think.
Graham’s career high in catches is 38, set in 2003. By the time he left the Patriots, he had caught 120 balls in five seasons, 24 per. He caught 21 last season, when he became an afterthought in the passing game following the emergence of Ben Watson.
When the Broncos look at Graham, they don’t see just a run blocker. They envision a solid contributor to the passing game, a player who could put up career numbers in Mike Shanahan’s offense.
“I think we’re probably going to use him a little bit more,” Jay Cutler said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who can do all the same things, block and catch. He’s definitely going to be used as a pass-catching tight end.”
Jim Armstrong issues regular reports from training camp throughout the day along with video takes from the sidelines and snippets where fans get to do the talking. Visit .
