Broncos get high grade for one of the final picks of 2026 NFL Draft

Broncos get high grade for one of the final picks of 2026 NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Denver Broncos needed to add help at the tight end position in the 2026 NFL Draft and they did that by taking two tight ends on Day 3.

After trading up in the fifth round to secure North Carolina State tight end Justin Joly, the Broncos were likely content at the position. But coming up toward the end of the draft, they couldn't pass on Utah tight end Dallen Bentley.

Bentley was a tight end often connected to the Broncos in mock drafts this offseason, but none of those picks were in the seventh round. Some mocksters had the Broncos pick him in the fifth round, and some even in the fourth. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com had a fifth-round grade on him, and if you watch his game, that's about right.

How he lasted until the second-to-last pick of the draft is a bit of a surprise, but he could be an excellent fit in Denver.

Analysis, grade of seventh-round selection Dallen Bentley

Bentley began his college career at Snow College. If that sounds familiar, it's because it's the same school that Garett Bolles was at before going to Utah.

Bentley is a big target who can get open in the middle of the field and once he has the ball in his hands, can become an imposing player to bring down as he looks to run right over defenders.

He can add something as a blocker and while that part of his game is far from refined, there's a good starting point. The selection of Joly and Bentley is bad news for Lucas Krull and perhaps even the veteran . Bentley should not be overlooked just because of his draft status.