The Denver Broncos unearthed an undrafted free agent gem in 2016 when they signed TE Henry Krieger-Coble, the former Iowa Hawkeyes TE…
As the Denver Broncos continue what has been a wild offseason, it’s time to take a look at what kind of gem they might have found after the draft in Iowa TE Henry Krieger-Coble…
Krieger-Coble had just one big season of production at Iowa, but that isn’t atypical due to the way they crank out tight ends in that system.
The Broncos cut Owen Daniels this offseason and now more than a year removed from losing Julius Thomas, they have some questions at the tight end position going forward. Virgil Green, 2015 3rd round pick Jeff Heuerman, and Garrett Graham sit atop the depth chart for now, but Krieger-Coble made an impact in mini-camp.
He also was given one of the highest bonuses of Broncos undrafted players this offseason, so the team thinks highly of him.
After catching the eye of some reporters and observers at minicamp, Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak was asked about his rookie tight end, and it was clear that the coaching staff likes what they have seen.
Kubiak mentioned that Krieger-Coble needs to add some weight, and they’ve been working with him to do so. That said, he could be a better candidate for the practice squad in year one than the active 53-man roster.
The Broncos have been one of the best teams in the NFL over the last decade plus at bringing in undrafted players who contribute on game day. Chris Harris Jr. and C.J. Anderson are the model for this, having recently re-signed big contract extensions with the team after proving to be key pieces of their Super Bowl 50 run.
The former Iowa tight end hopes to be the next in that long line of successful undrafted players to make an impact in Denver, and he’s off to a really strong start.
At Iowa, Krieger-Coble caught just three passes as a junior in 2014, but emerged as a senior as the team’s top tight end with 35 catches for 405 yards and a touchdown. Most had draftable grades on Kriger-Coble coming out this year, but the situation in Denver is going to provide him with a really solid shot at making the team.
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Coming from the Iowa program, Krieger-Coble is well-versed in the art of blocking, but he also proved over the course of the last year that he is sure-handed, and capable of making difficult catches with regularity. He did much of the same at the Senior Bowl, and has done exactly that at Broncos OTAs.
His ability to play both in-line and flexed out as a slot receiver or moving around as an H-back only help his chances of making this Broncos roster.
With the situation the Broncos currently have at tight end, this could wind up being one of the best signings of this year’s undrafted free agent class.