Vernon Davis traded to Broncos from 49ers

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Just as the Denver Broncosoffense is starting to find its new offensive identity, they have added another major receiving threat.

General manager John Elway announced Monday the team has agreed to a trade with San Francisco 49ers for tight end Vernon Davis. The move will cost the Broncos $2.3 million in salary this year for Davis, along with $225,000 in per-game roster bonuses for the final year of Davis’ contract, making it a fairly low-risk move.

It’s an intriguing move for Denver, especially since it came less than 24 hours after the Broncos’ tight ends had their best day of the season in the 29-10 win against Green Bay, when Owen Daniels and Virgil Green combined for six catches for 105 yards.  

     But it shouldn’t be looked as an indictment on either Daniels, who previously for Kubiak in Houston and Baltimore, nor Green, who was primarily used as a blocking tight end earlier in his career in Denver. Instead the move should be seen as a chance to create mismatches in the middle of the field, where quarterback Peyton Manning is at his best.

Adding Davis could eventually allow the Broncos the flexibility to use three tight-end packaged, which is something Daniels said head coach Gary Kubiak did at times in Houston, with Daniels, Joel Dreessen and Graham.

The question now is how much Davis, 31, has left and how quickly he can learn the hybrid Kubiak-Manning offense the Broncos are running in Denver. He has 18 catches for 194 yards and no touchdowns this season for the 49ers, though his low production could be a function of a 49ers offense that is struggling. San Francisco did not score a touchdown in their last two games, losses to the Seattle Seahawks and St. Louis Rams.

He told reporters Sunday in St. Louis that he was aware that he could be traded by Tuesday’s deadline.

His first game as a Bronco – if he is up to speed enough to make the active game day roster – would come against brother Vontae Davis’ Indianapolis Colts.