When the Denver Broncos finally decided to address the tight end position in the 2026 NFL Draft, they didn't just dip a toe in the water—they went all in. After four-plus rounds of waiting, the Broncos selected not one, but two tight ends in the later rounds. The final piece of that puzzle? Utah's Dallen Bentley, snagged with the 256th overall pick—the second-to-last selection of the entire draft.

Bentley's arrival in Denver is more than just a late-round flier; it's a strategic addition to a revamped offense. Head coach Sean Payton sees a clear distinction between his two new tight ends. "With Bentley, there's a more in-line wide, bigger. He does a great job down the field," Payton explained. While fellow rookie Justin Joli fits the 'F' or move tight end role, Bentley brings a classic, punishing style—a big-bodied target who can both seal the edge in the run game and stretch the seam as a receiver.

And if you think being "Mr. Irrelevant" carries any weight, you'd be right. Payton joked about Bentley's new title, noting that if linebacker Red Murdock can't handle the Mr. Irrelevant duties, these two will share the load. But Bentley isn't fazed by the label. "Super excited. It was definitely a little bit suspected, but it's always a surprise," he said. "I'm just super excited."

So how did a tight end from Utah work his way into the NFL? For Bentley, it's all about consistency. "Coming in every day ready to work as hard as I can, finding those little things of improvement and doing that consistently," he shared. "It's not just a one-time thing, but doing it over and over again." That blue-collar mentality is exactly what makes late-round picks such compelling stories—and why Broncos Country should be paying close attention.

When asked about his biggest strengths, Bentley didn't hesitate. "I'm a really great hybrid tight end who's able to go out there and make some big plays in the passing game and stick my hand in the dirt and make some big plays there. I have great hands, so I don't drop balls." For a team looking to add reliability in the red zone and on third downs, that's music to any quarterback's ears. And for fans, it's a reminder that the NFL Draft's final pick can sometimes deliver the biggest surprises.