He might not have a clear-cut position. He might not be the right weight. He might not block that great.
When it comes to Denver Broncos rookie tight end and 2026 4th round pick Justin Joly, there’s already been a lot of talk about what he can’t do.
The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner is more focused on what Joly can do and how he thinks the former North Carolina State star can contribute when he finally gets on the field for the Super Bowl contenders. It’s Joly’s upside that landed him at the top of The Athletic’s list of the “Biggest Sleepers” coming out of the NFL draft.
“Joly is a bit of a project — you might never get true first-down, run-blocking power out of him,” Baumgarnder wrote. “But he’s a bit of a mutant athletically (6-3, 241), with great vertical speed and enough wiggle to separate at the top of routes. He could be a potential matchup problem in the NFL.”
Adding Offensive Weapons for Broncos QB Bo Nix
Any offensive pick for the Broncos the last 2 years comes with 1 question off the bat — how will they fit with starting quarterback Bo Nix?
“Broncos use No. 152 for TE Justin Joly,” Broncos reporter Mike Klis wrote on his official X account after the Broncos selected Joly. “Offensive weapons continue to stack up for Bo Nix.”
Joly spoke with DNVR’s Zac Stevens about playing for the Broncos, saying head coach Sean Payton and offensive coordinator Davis Webb envision him as a “Swiss Army Knife” in the offense.
Joly also spoke about playing with Nix, who has become 1 of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks over his 1st 2 NFL seasons. The Broncos missed the playoffs in 8 consecutive seasons before Nix was drafted in the 1st round (No. 12 overall) of the 2024 NFL draft.
In 2 seasons with the Broncos, Nix has led the team to consecutive playoff berths, including a 14-3 regular season and a spot in the AFC Championship Game following the 2025 season.
“Leadership and knowing what to do at all times,” Joly said when asked what he expected of playing with Nix. “He’s such a smart quarterback. Be reliable and be there when he needs you.”
Broncos Want Justin Joly Playing at Lighter Weight
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported the Broncos wanted Joly, a 2026 5th-round pick (No. 152 overall), to drop some weight before he gets on the field.
Joly checked in at 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds at the NFL scouting combine in February after playing at around 260 pounds during the 2025 season.
“Denver explored taking a tight end somewhat early, but the board didn’t fall that way,” Fowler wrote. “The Broncos would have considered Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers if he made it to No. 62 (he went eight picks earlier). But fifth-rounder Justin Joly out of N.C. State can be a pass-catching weapon. The Broncos really like his tape from 2024, when he played at a lighter weight.”
In 2024, playing at a lighter weight, Joly had 43 receptions for 661 yards and 4 touchdowns. In 2025, he had 49 receptions for 489 yards and 7 touchdowns.
One of the things about Joly’s game that stood out over the last few years is his ability to create yards after the catch. He was 2nd in the FBS with 48 missed tackles forced over the last 4 seasons, and averaged 5.5 yards after catch.
Broncos ‘Mutant’ 4th Round Pick Called NFL Draft’s Biggest Sleeper