The Facts: After suffering a torn ACL last summer, Heuerman did everything but play last season. Determined not to waste the season, he attended every meeting, took weekly playbook tests, added lean muscle without losing any of his sturdy 252 pounds and traveled on road trips to experience the venues. He watched several games from the sidelines. So the Broncos believe Heuerman will settle in quickly. "We expect (Heuerman) to step in and be a force," general manager John Elway said.

Diehards Line: Heuerman boasts a unique skill set as a capable blocker with soft hands. He projects as a potential replacement for veteran Owen Daniels, who was released, but whose return hasn't been ruled out. As it stands, Heuerman would pair with Virgil Green, a solid blocker who was underutilized in the passing game last season. "We're counting on (Heuerman) big time," HC Gary Kubiak said. "We feel like Jeff can be a total tight end. He's not just a receiver. We think he has the ability to do both (catch and block). He's a very confident young man and he comes from a winning program. It's a big offseason for him and he's worked really hard."