NA #45

Nate Adkins

Tight End · South Carolina

An undrafted blocking tight end who has made himself a fixture in Denver by handling the dirty work up front.

Nate Adkins is not chasing targets in Denver's passing game. He built his roster spot on blocking and special-teams value after going undrafted out of South Carolina, and the Broncos have kept bringing him back year after year for exactly that reason.

★ Re-signed by Broncos on a one-year deal for 2026

★ 24 career receptions, 4 touchdowns since 2023

Path to the league

Adkins began his college career at East Tennessee State before transferring to South Carolina for his final season, where he caught 13 passes for 168 yards, including a highlight one-handed grab against Clemson. He went unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft and signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent.

Career highlights

Adkins has carved out a role as a blocking tight end and H-back for Denver, valued more for his in-line and special-teams work than pass-catching production. He has remained with the organization since signing in 2023, a testament to his reliability in a specialized role, and has totaled 24 career receptions and four touchdowns.

2025 season recap

Adkins' 2025 season was limited by a knee injury that cost him nearly half the year. He still managed four catches, one of which went for a touchdown, before the Broncos re-signed him to a one-year deal worth up to nearly $2 million with incentives for 2026.