Why the Broncos drafted Utah TE Dallen Bentley

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 31: Dallen Bentley #88 of the Utah Utes reacts after a first down catch against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half of the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl at Allegiant Stadium on December 31, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With their second of three 7th round selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Broncos double-dipped at tight end and selected Utah’s Dallen Bentley. Earlier on Day 3, they drafted NC State’s Justin Joly, and now Bentley will join him as the new additions to the Broncos tight end room.

Bentley is a 6-4, 253-pound tight end with 4.62 speed, 33-inch arms, and a 35-inch vertical jump. He played a total of three seasons at Utah and is coming off a breakout season for them. This past year, Bentley had 48 receptions for 620 yards and 6 touchdowns.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler thought Bentley would go earlier in the draft and had a 4th-5th round grade on him while ranking him as his 13th-best tight end in the draft. Brugler called Bentley a “zone monster” due to his ability to find the soft spots in zone coverage, while saying he improved as a run blocker this past season, but he needs more development in that area.

A zone monster, Bentley has a great feel for urgently sitting down, securing the catch and then finding hidden yards as a tough-to-finish runner. He is highly efficient in his snatch-and-go body mechanics, although that focus doesn’t carry over to crowded catch points (low success rate in contested windows). He did a better job playing to his size as a run blocker in 2025, but his uneven technique leads to sustain issues and execution lapses. Bentley needs to become a more disciplined blocker to be trusted on a pro field, but his size-speed traits and pass-catching talent are potential assets for an NFL team.