Adam Trautman has known only two head coaches in his career — and one of them, Sean Payton, has been his head coach for five of those six seasons.
Payton drafted him in 2020. Traded up to take him out of THE University of Dayton, in fact. And after a 2022 season that Trautman played with the Saints under Payton’s successor, Dennis Allen, Payton traded for him again, acquiring him during the 2023 NFL Draft to bolster his first tight-end room in Denver.
And that partnership will continue, as Trautman agreed on a three-year deal worth up to $18 million just hours before the legal-tampering period begins Monday. KUSA-Ch. 9’s Mike Klis was first to report the move.
Trautman is the second potential unrestricted free agent to re-up with the Broncos on the last day before the legal-tampering period begins, joining inside linebacker Justin Strnad.
In choosing to re-sign Adam Trautman, the Broncos are choosing dependability and reliability. Trautman hasn’t missed a game since joining the Broncos — a perfect 56-of-56, including postseason — and over the course of his career has played in 99 of a possible 106 games.
He’s played in at least 52 percent of the snaps in each of the last five seasons, including 57 percent of the snaps in 2025. Trautman played at least 40 snaps in 11 of 19 games, including postseason. He’s also led the Broncos in snaps among tight ends in each of the last three seasons.
ADAM TRAUTMAN HAD THE MOST SURE HANDS IN THE BRONCOS’ TIGHT-END ROOM LAST YEAR
Drops were a problem for the Broncos’ tight ends last year, but not for Adam Trautman. As a group, Broncos tight ends had the league’s worst drop rate, as Evan Engram had the second-worst drop rate for any tight end with at least 25 targets and Nate Adkins dropped three of nine catchable passes.
But Trautman had a reliable set of paws. He dropped just one of 21 catchable passes. Among all Broncos players with at least five targets, only Marvin Mims Jr. had a better drop rate.
Over the last three seasons he’s spent as a Bronco, Trautman has just two drops, and a drop rate of one every 29 catchable passes. That ranks 12th among 63 tight ends with at least 50 catchable passes in that time span.
There’s something to be said for knowing that the ball is almost certainly going to be caught when it’s thrown in a player’s direction. Adam Trautman provides that, and on a team for which drops were a problem, that’s a comforting thought — and likely is a huge part of the reason why he’s coming back.