Broncos Might Have Taken This Star Tight End If He Was Available In The Second Round

Broncos Might Have Taken This Star Tight End If He Was Available In The Second Round

The Denver Broncos are fresh off an AFC West title and a trip to the AFC title game, so they didn't have many needs entering the 2026 NFL Draft.

Some key areas they needed to address was tight end, running back and defensive tackle, and they added those positions during the draft despite having limited picks.

The Broncos selected tight end Justin Joly from North Carolina State on Day 3 after moving up in a deal with the Cleveland Browns to select Joly at No. 152.

Joly is a versatile player, and he fits the Sean Payton scheme well.

However, there is another tight end Denver would've taken in the second round if he was available: Vanderbilt star Eli Stowers.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN detailed that in his latest intel piece.

"Denver explored taking a tight end somewhat early, but the board didn't fall that way. The Broncos would have considered Vanderbilt's Eli Stowers if he made it to No. 62 (he went eight picks earlier). But fifth-rounder Justin Joly out of N.C. State can be a pass-catching weapon. The Broncos really like his tape from 2024, when he played at a lighter weight," Fowler wrote.

Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq unsurprisingly went in the first round, and the next tight end taken was Stowers, .