The Denver Broncos traded up to pick 152 to select NC State tight end Justin Joly in the 5th round of the 2026 NFL Draft. We all expected the Broncos to draft a tight end, and they ended up drafting two, with Joly being the first due to a trade-up.
Joly is a 6-3, 245-pound tight end with 32 3/4 inch arms and 10 5/8 inch hands and profiles as a contested catch move tight end who will be a weapon in the middle of the field and in the red zone.
After starting
his college career at UConn, Joly played the past two seasons at NC State and turned into one of the better playmaking tight ends in the nation. During his two seasons, he appeared in 25 games and totaled 92 receptions for 1,150 yards and 11 touchdowns. This past year, he totaled 49 receptions for 489 yards and 7 touchdowns
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had Justin Joly as his TE5 in this draft and had a 3rd/4th round grade on him. Now, the Broncos trade up to get him in the 5th round. Brugler calls Joly a versatile pass catcher, and due to his athleticism, ball skills, and upside, he profiles as a three-level threat.
Joly is a good-sized athlete who can drop his weight at the top of routes and uncover with foot quicks and savvy. He has large, strong hands and has developed into a ball winner with his ability to frame the catch and finish, regardless of his surroundings. He competes as a blocker and has the coordination to stay attached but lacks the body power to dominate the point of attack. Joly is a versatile pass catcher, because of his athleticism, ball skills and upside as a three-level threat. Built in the mold of Jonnu Smith, he is more Robin than Batman and ideally suited as a “move” tight end in a 12-personnel offense.
Joly was drafted to give the Broncos some life to their tight end room, which was not very good last season. Veteran Evan Engram failed to live up to expectations after being signed to be the ‘Joker’, and Adam Trautman is mostly used to block. Joly is a contested catch monster and can be a receiving threat in the middle of the field and in the red zone/end zone for quarterback Bo Nix.
Most analysts projected Joly to be a late Day 2 or early Day 3 player, but he slipped into the 5th round, and the Broncos had to pounce. They got some good value and a tight end who could turn into a potential playmaker for the Broncos moving forward.
Player Profile
Justin Joly | Tight End | Broncos
- Height: 6-3
- Weight: 245 pounds
- Arm Length: 32 3/4 inches
- Hand Size: 10 5/8 inches
- Age: 21 years old
- Experience: Rookie
- Vertical Jump: 30.5 inches
- Broad Jump: 9-6
- Short Shuttle: 4.65 seconds
- 2025 stats: 49 receptions for 489 yards and 7 touchdowns
Rookie TE Justin Joly’s 2026 outlook with the Broncos
Joly should have a role in the Denver Broncos offense this upcoming season. While he’s a 5th-round pick, I am confident in saying he is locked into a roster spot. He is someone who many believed could be in play for the Broncos in Day 2 and certainly in the 4th round. However, he slipped into the 5th round, and the Broncos moved up to get him.
He is your classic “move tight end” who thrives at contested catches and inside the red zone. We could see him used in some two-tight-end sets, be a target in the middle of the field, and be a featured red-zone weapon for quarterback Bo Nix. He has big, strong hands and has thrived in those roles in college, and I believe that is how he will be used in the NFL moving forward.
With that said, veteran Evan Engram is expected to be the featured pass-catching tight end once again this season, so Joly will need to earn his playing time.
Like all pass-catching tight ends, Joly will need to prove himself as a blocker at the next level, too, but Head Coach Sean Payton told reporters that they view Joly more as an “F” tight end while fellow rookie tight end Dallen Bentley is more of the in-line guy.
With Bentley, there’s a more in-line wide, bigger. He does a great job down the field. With Joly, that would put him more in the ‘F’ category. Both are tight ends, and both have unique skill sets. They’re different.”
I believe Joly has a chance to be a standout player for the Broncos during training camp and the preseason. He will be going against the Broncos second and third team defenses and will have an opportunity to make plenty of plays and earn himself more looks with the starters.
With the additions of Joly and Bentley, the Broncos’ tight end room is suddenly a competitive one. Those two, including Joly, will be competing with Nate Adkins, Lucas Krull, and the developing Caleb Lohner, who earned some praise from head coach Sean Payton after the rookie minicamp practices. I like Joly’s chances of making the team and having a role on offense, but he will face some competition for that spot and will need to impress.
Final Thoughts
I have high hopes for Joly.
If they took Joly with their second-round pick or in the third round after trading back, I would have been perfectly okay with that. He is a play-making tight end with some athleticism who gives the Broncos a much-needed threat in the passing game and in the red zone.
I believe he can be a threat in the middle of the field and will be able to find the open spaces in zone coverage, and can create a little bit after the catch. However, where I believe he will be at his best is inside the red zone. Joly was a contested catch monster in college, and that skill set translates to the next level. Put him one-on-one on a smaller corner or less athletic linebacker in the slot, and I believe he can use his size, athleticism, and strong hands to make the play.
Obviously, veteran Evan Engram is going to be the main pass-catching threat here, but I think Joly will get his opportunities and be someone we are hyped up about this summer after his performance during training camp and the preseason.
