While we may never know what their plan truly was, we can at least say what the Denver Broncos should have done with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft if things had gone their way.
While we know what the Broncos did do — draft cornerback Jahdae Barron — we can only hope the Broncos would have taken Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland (No. 10 overall) or Pro Bowl Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren (No. 14 overall).
Their rookie years showed us both Loveland and Warren could be 2 of the NFL’s best tight ends for the next decade.
For the Broncos, after striking out in free agency last year with tight end Evan Engram on a 2-year, $23 million contract, the better move might be to explore a trade for a player on a team that’s not a contender — like the Minnesota Vikings and 2-time Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson.
From the Locked on Broncos podcast: “I think one of the best possible solutions for the Broncos this offseason could be to trade for T.J. Hockenson. The Vikings, another team changing general managers … I mean if you call up the GM there, the interim GM, and you’re like ‘Hey, what do you want for Hockenson?’ You might be able to get him at a decent price right now.”
What’s a decent price? Probably nothing higher than a 4th round pick, but if the Broncos could get the Vikings to bite on that they might be in business.
Hockenson Could Be Perfect Fit for Broncos
Hockenson, 6-foot-5 and 248 pounds, is 1 of the NFL’s most respected veteran tight ends almost since the moment the Detroit Lions drafted the 2018 John Mackey Award winner with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft.
The Lions traded Hockenson to the Vikings midway through the 2022 season in exchange for a 2023 2nd round pick and 2024 3rd round pick.
Before the 2023 season, the Vikings signed Hockenson to a whopping 4-year, $66 million contract extension. He responded with career highs of 95 receptions, 960 yards and 5 touchdowns but suffered a gruesome knee injury in Week 16, tearing both his ACL and MCL.
Hockenson missed the first 7 games of the 2024 season but returned to put up big numbers with 41 receptions for 455 yards in just 10 games. In 2025, catching passes from a group that included 4 different starting quarterbacks, Hockenson had 51 receptions for 438 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Vikings went from a 14-3 record in 2024 to going 9-8 and missing the playoffs.
Another Option: Draft TE Kenyon Sadiq in 1st Round
There looks to be at least 1 tight end who should be a 1st round pick this year in Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq, who the Broncos might hope and pray is still available at No. 30 overall.
ESPN’s Field Yates predicts Sadiq will actually fall to the Broncos at that spot in his latest mock draft.
Sadiq, 6-foot-3 and 245 pound, left Oregon with one year of eligibility remaining after he was named Big Ten Tight End of the Year in 2025 with 51 receptions for 560 yards and 8 touchdowns.
“Sadiq’s range surely starts sooner than here, as this would be great value for a Broncos team with limited needs,” Yates wrote. “Coach Sean Payton has long valued a player who can be their ‘joker,’ a player who is either a top-end receiving back or mismatch tight end.”
Broncos Have Opportunity to Trade for 6-foot-5, 248-Pound Pro Bowl TE