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, who went at No. 54 overall to the Eagles .
The Jacksonville Jaguars had everybody scratching their heads by taking Texas A&M tight end Nate Boerkircher, who is known as a blocker, two picks after Stowers.
Marlin Klein and Max Klare also went in the second round, so the tight end run began late in the second round.
The Broncos ended up trading out of the second round altogether, but things would've been different if Stowers had been available.
Joly is a fun pick, especially since he went on Day 3, which was a surprise. He spent the first two seasons at UConn and played the final two for North Carolina State.
His college career combined for 166 receptions for 1,978 yards and 15 touchdowns, with a career-high seven scores in 2025.
As for Stowers, he was regarded as the second-best tight end of the class by far, and there seems to be little doubt he would be wearing a Broncos uniform if he didn't go before No. 62.
For now, Joly is a solid option for Denver, and he seems to be a player Payton can use in a lot of ways.
