The Denver Broncos used their fifth-round pick (152nd overall) in the 2026 NFL Draft to add some much-needed depth to their tight end room, selecting NC State's Justin Joly. While many draft analysts had Joly ranked as high as the fourth-best tight end on their boards, he surprisingly slid to the later rounds—making this pick a potential steal for the Broncos.

In the short term, don't expect Joly to leapfrog the veterans on the depth chart. But in the mid-term, there's plenty of reason for excitement. The 6-foot-4 pass-catcher brings a versatile skill set that head coach Sean Payton is already eager to tap into.

Payton recently broke down the different types of tight ends on the roster, explaining: "With [Dallen] 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."

Joly himself is ready to embrace whatever role the team needs. "Honestly, anything they need me to do, I'm looking forward to," he said. "They just said I have to go out there and ball... Play all over the field. I'm obviously going to learn from the big guys and the older guys. Just looking forward to being there and being with the team. Coach Payton and GM George Paton both believe in me."

The selection of Joly comes as the Broncos continue to build around a defense that has been dominant in recent seasons. Edge rusher Nik Bonitto, a former second-round pick, has quietly emerged as one of the NFL's elite pass rushers—posting 27.5 sacks over the last two seasons, including a career-high 14.0 in 2025. That anchored a Denver defense that led the league in sacks in back-to-back years.

As the Broncos look to balance their defensive firepower with offensive playmakers, Joly represents a promising piece for the future. Whether he's flexed out wide, working from the slot, or learning from the veterans, this fifth-rounder has the tools to make an impact.