The Denver Broncos went back to the well in the 2026 NFL draft by selecting a Utah tight end in the 7th round for the 2nd consecutive year — although this 1 might have a little more upside.
After missing big on 6-foot-7 Utah basketball player-turned-tight end Caleb Lohner in the 7th round in 2025, the Broncos added an actual tight end in the 7th round in 2026 with Dallen Bentley.
Bentley, 6-foot-4 and 253 pounds, was projected as a Day 3 pick, just not as late as he ended up going on Day 3.
ESPN’s Field Yates singled out the Broncos’ pick of Bentley as his favorite pick of the 7th round.
“The Broncos made the draft’s final two selections, using the penultimate pick on Bentley,” Yates wrote on Tuesday. “He’s a long tight end who can be a factor in the middle of the field with his strong hands and useful run-after-catch ability. Bentley had 48 catches for 620 yards in 2025 and will compete with fellow rookie Justin Joly for an opportunity to take on coach Sean Payton’s ‘joker’ role on offense.”
NFL Draft Expert Projected Bentley in 5th Round
NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein incorrectly predicted Bentley would go in the 5th round, although it’s not hard to see why he thought that.
Bentley impressed at the NFL scouting combine by running the 40-yard dash in 4.62 seconds after earning All-Big 12 honors for the 1st time in 2025.
“With just three catches over his first two seasons at Utah, Bentley’s 48 grabs in 2025 came as a surprise,” Zierlein wrote. “He has the build of an in-line tight end but mostly uses his size to occupy defenders instead of digging into blocks. A heavy portion of his catches came against zone, so he will need to refine his route running and contested-catch technique to prove he can win on his own. Bentley’s NFL future could depend on his ability to play with more tenacity and technique as a run blocker since his catch production from 2025 might not translate.”
Broncos Have Confusing Mix at Tight End
The addition of not 1 but 2 tight ends in the 2026 draft seems to indicate the Broncos are moving toward a total overhaul at the position, where they still have veteran and 2-time Pro Bowler Evan Engram penciled in as the starter.
Engram proved to be 1 of the NFL’s most disappointing free-agent signings in 2025 after he inked a 2-year, $23 million contract with the Broncos and did little to justify that spend.
“Sean Payton clamored about wanting a ‘joker’ for his offense, which seemed to be Engram,” PFF’s Bradley Locker wrote in February. “However, Engram didn’t offer reliable contributions with a 57.6 PFF receiving grade and a 7.0% drop rate. Now, Denver will presumably go back to the well as it searches for a playmaking tight end.”
The Broncos also have a reliable backup in Adam Trautman to go with Joly, who was a 5th round pick (No. 152 overall), and is listed 3rd on the depth chart behind Engram and Trautman.
Bentley, who will turn 26 years old in December, wasn’t even listed on the Broncos’ 4-deep depth chart following the draft.
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