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A key blocking presence in Denver last season, Chris Manhertz<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>is moving off the Broncos\u2019 roster amid a cap crunch. The team will release the veteran tight end, per ESPN.com\u2019s Field Yates<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Broncos gave Manhertz a two-year, $6M deal to rejoin\u00a0<\/span>Sean Payton last year. Better remembered for his time with the Panthers and Jaguars, Manhertz is an eight-year veteran. His release will save the Broncos just more than $2M in cap space.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve played long enough in this league to where whatever happens, it\u2019s just business,\u201d Manhertz said,\u00a0<\/span>via 9News\u2019 Mike Klis<\/a>. \u201cIs it disappointing news? Sure. But it\u2019s just business. You take it for what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n Manhertz, 31, played 367 offensive snaps over 16 games for the Broncos last season. Denver\u2019s rushing attack struggled for the most part, and Manhertz (two catches, 16 yards) was a non-factor in the passing game. Manhertz was viewed as one of the game\u2019s better pass-blocking tight ends last year, per Pro Football Focus. Prior to coming to Denver, the former UDFA had spent two seasons in Jacksonville and more than four in Carolina. He only played three games for the Saints; those came in 2016.<\/p>\n The Broncos will need a better answer at tight end in 2024, however, as 2022 third-round pick Greg Dulcich<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>has been an IR mainstay due to chronic hamstring trouble. Denver is close to cap compliance, being less than $1M over as of Friday afternoon. But the team will need to do more work with its roster to be able to afford some free-agency upgrades. The Manhertz release comes a day after the Broncos cut their longest-tenured player, Justin Simmons<\/a>, to\u00a0<\/span>end an eight-season partnership<\/a>.
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