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The Denver Broncos head into 2026 free agency needing a lot of help at the tight end position. Evan Engram is still under contract and theoretically a pass-catching threat, but with Adam Trautman leaving for free agency, there is a need at the position for someone who can actually block in the run game. Charlie Kolar, a backup tight end for the Baltimore Ravens, stands out as an affordable option with the size and physicality to fill a role Denver desperately needs.
Player Profile
Tight End | Charlie Kolar | Baltimore Ravens
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 265 pounds
Age: 27 years old
Experience: 4 NFL seasons
Stats: 30 receptions, 409 yards, 4 touchdowns. In 2025, he played in all 17 games (7 starts), catching 10 passes for 142 yards and 2 scores on 15 targets.
Should the Broncos sign tight end Charlie Kolar?
Tight end blocking was absolutely atrocious throughout most of the season. That negatively affected the run game, but is also a big reason why the screen game was so frustrated. It wasn’t just all on the tight end though as the wide receiver blocking was also pretty bad in those situations.
That is the main reason why I’d love to see Denver sign a guy like Charlie Kolar. He’s not going to fill the role that Evan Engram was supposed to fill, but he’d be an absolute monster when asked to fill the role of run blocker. He’s also a sneaky option in the red zone given his height advantage over most any defender.
Why the Broncos will not sign Charlie Kolar in free agency
The short answer is that he won’t solve the tight end problem. The Broncos will still need to attack the position even if they did get Kolar in the building.
The reason being is that Kolar’s receiving production is modest with minimal separation skills. He lacks the athleticism to create consistent mismatches or become a featured option. Denver would need to target a more dynamic tight end through the draft or higher-profile free agency to upgrade the position long-term. Or, if they believe in Engram, they could continue to roll with him at 1a and a guy like Kolar as 1b.
Final Thoughts
I initially felt like I picked up a boring free agent candidate when we were all signing up for guys to cover ahead of free agency. However, the more closely I looked at Kolar the more I like the idea of bringing him to Denver. A solid run blocking tight end was a serious hole last season. It gets overlooked because its not as flashy as a ‘joker’ tight end not being as explosive as we all hoped he would be.
This signing would afford the Broncos to go after a play-making tight end without worrying so much about their blocking ability as much as worrying about their play-making ability. I say go after this kid.
How do you feel about Charlie Kolar and his fit with the Denver Broncos?