Broncos Undrafted Rookie Spotlight: Kolbe Katsis could add juice to return game

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Broncos Undrafted Rookie Spotlight: Kolbe Katsis could add juice to return game

Travis Wakeman · The Sporting News

Mon, May 18, 2026 ·

2 min read

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Broncos Undrafted Rookie Spotlight: Kolbe Katsis could add juice to return game originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

Following the 2026 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos brought in a group of four undrafted wide receivers. One of those was Kolbe Katsis.

Katsis will begin training camp later this summer at the bottom of the team's depth chart, but he will be one of the more exciting undrafted players to watch when preseason games kick off.

Name: Kolbe Katsis
Position: Wide receiver
School: Northern Arizona
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 185

Katsis began his college career at Pittsburg State in Kansas before transferring to Northern Arizona for two seasons. In 2025, he was an All-Conference performer in the Big Sky. He caught 60 passes for 1,068 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

He isn't the biggest target down the field, but he is extremely quick and posted a 4.43-second 40-yard dash leading up to the draft. He is a wide receiver by trade, but the place where he can initially make a mark in the NFL is on special teams as a kick returner.

Chances to make final 53-man roster (1-10 scale): 3

The main reason the Broncos chose to bring in Katsis is likely due to special teams coach Darren Rizzi seeing him as a potential asset in the return game. Rizzi was reportedly big on him . Last season, he had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Northern Colorado.

Katsis could become somewhat of a gadget player down the road for the team, similar to the way Marvin Mims Jr. is currently used. Each year, there seems to be at least one player on the roster bubble who plays so well in the preseason that it's hard to justify cutting them. Last year, the Broncos got a great performance from undrafted free agent wide receiver Courtney Jackson. A couple of years ago, undrafted running back Jaleel McLaughlin was too good to let go.

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Katsis could easily be that player this year. While it will be quite difficult for any of the undrafted wide receivers to make the team this year with guys like Courtland Sutton , Jaylen Waddle , Troy Franklin and Mims ahead of them, Katsis stands the best chance and should push for a priority spot on the practice squad if nothing else.

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