2017 Broncos roster: Tight end Austin Traylor

Name: Austin Traylor
Position: TE
Height: 6’3" Weight: 255 lbs
Age: 23 Experience: 2nd
College: Wisconsin

Austin Traylor is entering his second season in the NFL after signing with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2016. Since then, he has spent time on the then San Diego Chargers practice squad then cut and signed to the New England Patriots practice squad then cut and finally signed to the Denver Broncos practice squad this past December.

He will be looking to fight his way through a rather deep field of tight ends, most of whom would be considered roster possibilities before Traylor would be considered.

The Good

He has the size and build for an NFL tight end who was decent in college as both a pass catcher and run blocker. Traylor also made some plays during OTA’s that will only help him entering training camp later this month catching some deep passes from Paxton Lynch

Lynch threw a pick six to Taurean Nixon during the minicamp session Tuesday but came back and threw nice deep ball completions to Cody Latimer and tight end Austin Traylor.

The Bad

Traylor doesn’t possess top end athleticism. This will likely keep him on the fringe of making an NFL roster. His best chance of catching on is to work on technique. If he develops incredible technique that allows him to get open despite the limited athleticism, then he could find his way onto a team longer term.

Quotable

Traylor has a history of working hard to expand his game. The reason he is considered a one-year producer in college is because he was limited to a blocking role through most of his college career. That changed in 2014 when he worked every day for a year to emerge as the teams pass-catching tight end in 2015.

"I’ve been included in the passing game more," Traylor said. "They looked at me and I talked to the coaches. The whole talk was about me being the three-down tight end and not coming down on the third down, not just using the block. I made sure to do everything I possibly could to make that happen."

Status

As much as I admire a player who works hard, I just don’t think Traylor is quite ready to catch on an NFL roster. He will remain a good practice squad possibility, although I am unsure if that will be with the Broncos in 2017.