| Season | Base Salary | Prorated Signing Bonus | Per Game Roster Bonus | Guaranteed Salary | Cash Due | Cap Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $1,745,000* | $1,333,333 | $255,000 | $1,745,000 | $6,000,000 | $3,333,333 |
| 2027 | $4,990,000^ | $1,333,333 | $510,000 | $3,755,000 | $5,500,000 | $6,833,333 |
| 2028 | $4,990,000 | $1,333,334 | $510,000 | $0 | $5,500,000 | $6,833,334 |
^partially guaranteed salary
Trautman has $9.5 million fully guaranteed, via a $4 million signing bonus, and a total of $5.5 million contained within his 2026 and 2027 base salaries. The Broncos would incur $3.755 million in dead cash if he were cut before 2027, but offsetting salary could reduce that to as much as $2.41 million should he sign elsewhere.
From the outside, it’s difficult to see Trautman getting a contract like this elsewhere. Perhaps his market was higher than anticipated given other contracts signed in free agency like Charlie Kolar and Daniel Bellinger that exceeded Trautman’s. But every head coach has players they value higher than others, and clearly Trautman is one of those players for Trautman.
The Broncos should not declare mission accomplished at tight end, however. I still feel like they need to add another veteran to the roster, even after also bringing back Nate Adkins and Lucas Krull, and a rookie tight end is also imperative to obtain.