Eventually, the Denver Broncos are going to find an elite tight end to pair with quarterback Bo Nix. It just might not be as soon as the franchise hoped.
For the Broncos, the next opportunity to improve might not be until 2026.
Bleacher Report took a close look at the Broncos‘ roster after 2 weeks of the 2025 NFL regular season and singled out tight end as the team’s weakest link and the position the franchise needs to address the most in the 2026 NFL draft.
The best fit for the Broncos in the draft was singled out as University of Cincinnati tight end Joe Royer, a versatile 6-foot-5, 250-pound standout who is already shooting up draft boards but also a player Denver could get on Day 2 or Day 3 of the draft.
From B/R: “The Broncos added Evan Engram this offseason, but he’s not a long-term solution at the position. Sean Payton has generally featured tigh ends in his offense throughout his career … Joe Royer doesn’t have the same early hype as Kenyon Sadiq and Jack Endries, but he has the frame (6’5″, 250 pounds) and blocking chops to be a traditional in-line Y. That would offer an upgrade over Adam Trautman and another important weapon for Bo Nix moving forward.
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Royer Left Big Ten Powerhouse For Bearcats
Royer spent the first 3 seasons of his career at Ohio State, where he was buried on the depth chart and only had 4 receptions for 24 yards and no touchdowns. He transferred to Cincinnati and had a breakout season in 2024 with 50 receptions for 521 yards and 3 touchdowns.
So far, The Ringer’s Todd McShay is the only draft insider to project Royer into the first round.
“Royer set a UC single-season record by a tight end with 50 catches in 2024,” Sports Illustrated’s Russ Heltman wrote on May 5. “He turned those into 522 receiving yards and three touchdowns. It amounted to a 65.4 overall Pro Football Focus grade across 657 snaps. His run-blocking is the biggest weakness to beef up. If Royer can improve a 52.3 PFF run-blocking grade from 2024, he very well could be selected in the first 32 picks.”
Through the first 3 games of the 2025 season, Royer has 8 receptions for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Bearcats have had several tight ends drafted in the last 2 decades who went on to become NFL standouts. Brent Celek was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round (No. 162 overall) of the 2007 NFL draft and played all 11 of his NFL seasons there, retiring after an upset win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII.
More famously, the Kansas City Chiefs drafted tight end Travis Kelce in the third round (No. 63 overall) of the 2013 NFL draft. Kelce is a 7-time NFL All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler, 3-time Super Bowl champion and one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history.
Engram Seems Like Bust Through 2 Games
The Broncos signed Engram, a 2-time Pro Bowler, to a 2-year, $23 million free agent contract on March 12. His struggles early in the season were underlined in a 29-28 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2 in which he had 1 reception for 12 yards on 2 targets.
“Evan Engram has been a real non-factor today,” The Denver Post’s Luca Evans wote on X on September 14. “Usage in Week 1 was a little odd at times too even before calf injury.”
Through the first 2 games, Engram has 4 receptions for 21 yards and no touchdowns.
Broncos Urged to Address ‘Weakest Link’ Position in Next NFL Draft