The Denver Broncos selected North Carolina State tight end Justin Joly with the 152nd overall pick in the fifth round of the NFL draft on Saturday afternoon.
Joly (6-3, 241 pounds) brings a wide receiver mindset to the tight end position. Joly caught 166 passes for 1,978 yards and 15 touchdowns in four years at both UConn (2022-23) and NC State (2024-25). Although he has struggled as a blocker, Joly is a reliable receiver, dropping only one of 50 passes in 2025.
Joly had a top 30 visit with the Broncos before the 2026 NFL draft, where offensive coordinator Davis Webb and head coach Sean Payton told him he'd become a "Swiss army knife," per the Denver Post's Luca Evans.
Joly's selection deepens the bond between Payton and versatility. Joly's development as a blocker will be a closely-watched topic during training camp, and likely dictate his ability to get on the field in year one.
Tight end was a position room Denver largely kept the same from 2025. The pick for Joly may also signal the beginning of the end for 2025 seventh-round pick Caleb Lohner, who spent the year on the practice squad. Joly is a look to the future for an already strong Broncos team in 2026. Joly also said in a post-pick call he wants to be there when (quarterback Bo Nix) needs him.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos draft results: Early grade on new TE Justin Joly