Denver Broncos sign TE Lucas Krull

The Broncos' signing of Lucas Krull earns a C Contract Value Index (CVI)—a middling valuation that reflects the modest investment required but limited upside in return. At $1.36M on a one-year deal, this is a depth-piece acquisition with minimal cap strain, the kind of move that poses no financial risk to Denver's construction but also generates little margin for error in terms of on-field impact. Krull enters at a tier where franchise relevance is thin; he's a reserve-caliber tight end brought in to fill roster depth during the offseason, not a cornerstone piece or swing option that moves the needle. The value equation here is straightforward: the Broncos are spending replacement-level money on a replacement-level contributor, which is precisely what the market bears for this contract size and duration. There's no penalty for the team if Krull underperforms or fails to stick, and no significant upside if he overdelivers—it's a low-leverage plug designed to shore up the back end of the roster ahead of the regular season, which kicks off in 91 days. For a team sitting at 14-3 and the AFC's top seed, this is exactly the kind of low-cost, low-drama move that shouldn't distract from bigger competitive priorities.