Broncos draft preview: Denver could search for Joker Two at tight end

Editor’s note: Fourth in a series of NFL draft previews as it relates to the Broncos. Previously: Quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers. Today: Tight ends. 

Broncos’ in-house offseason moves: Signed Evan Engram; tendered Lucas Krull

Under contract: Evan Engram (two years), Adam Trautman (one year), Nate Adkins (one year), Lucas Krull (one year), Thomas Yassmin (one year)

Need scale (1-10): 5. Yes, the Broncos shelled out the most money on the TE market this offseason to land Engram, the Joker Sean Payton hath promised. But Engram is more of a hybrid pass-catching threat than a true tight end, despite his ability to block, and the Broncos ran multiple-tight-end stats on about 25% of their total offensive plays in 2024, according to data compiled from the NFL’s Game Statistics and Information System. Denver’s room has been one of the worst groups — purely by receiving — in the league in two years under head coach Payton, and this draft is teeming with versatile athletes.

Top five

Tyler Warren, Penn State: About as far-and-away a top prospect as you can get of any position group. 6-foot-5, 256 pounds of pure terror. Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki tossed Warren in about every alignment possible in a shapeshifting Nittany Lions attack, and Warren racked up 1,233 yards through the air and ran for 218 more on the ground. Theoretically, Payton would drool over his film, and the Broncos had a Zoom with Warren earlier in March — but there’s simply no way he falls to Denver at No. 20.

Colston Loveland, Michigan: Loveland’s college stats don’t jump off the page, but he was a key part of a national championship at Michigan in 2023 and racked up 582 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games this past season. He stands 6-foot-6 and is a solid route-runner at a variety of levels, with the ascribed potential to become a high-volume receiver. He’s also a pretty clear first-round option.

Mason Taylor, LSU: There’s a sub-tier of a few guys after Warren and Loveland, and Taylor’s as sure a bet as any of them. Let’s start with this: Dad, Jason, is in the Hall of Fame as one of the most productive sack artists ever. Taylor’s uncle Zach Thomas, meanwhile, is in the Hall of Fame as one of the best linebackers ever. Taylor’s got pedigree. He also stands 6-foot-5, weighs 256 pounds, and dropped one pass across 79 targets in 2024.

Elijah Arroyo, Miami: A high-risk, high-upside option, as Arroyo’s college career was marred by a knee injury before he exploded with a seven-touchdown season in 2024. If healthy, he’s a legitimate athlete at 6-5 who averaged a whopping 8.9 yards after the catch in 2024, per Pro Football Focus.

Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green: Don’t be fooled by thinking Fannin Jr.’s 2024 (117 catches for 1,555 yards) was due to Bowling Green’s schedule. He racked up over 135 yards in back-to-back games against ranked Penn State and Texas A&M, and the production is as legitimate as any tight end on the board. The athleticism doesn’t pop off the page, though, as much as the top names in the class.

More Broncos options

Terrance Ferguson, Oregon: The connections here are obvious. For one, Ferguson is a native of Littleton and has taken a local visit with the Broncos. For two, he played two seasons with Bo Nix at Oregon. For three, he stands 6-foot-5 and ran a 4.63 40-yard dash. He has more upside as a receiver than he showed at Oregon and could be a Day 2 fit for Denver.

Gunnar Helm, Texas: Another local guy! Helm was a standout at Cherry Creek High School before playing at Texas, breaking out with a 786-yard season in 2024. His stock dipped with a rough showing at the NFL combine, though, and he could be a value pick for the Broncos in the middle rounds.

Thomas Fidone II, Nebraska: Fidone would be a solid Day Three option for the Broncos if they looked elsewhere in earlier rounds. The potential is readily apparent, as he tied for fourth amongst all TEs in the 40-yard dash at the combine with a time of 4.70 seconds. Fidone doesn’t have a ton of proven tape as a pass-catcher, though, and finished 2024 with 36 catches but zero touchdowns. The Broncos saw Fidone at Nebraska’s pro day.

Oronde Gadsden II: Gadsden isn’t widely discussed in the top tiers of tight ends in this draft, which is somewhat curious but likely hinges on his profile as a tweener — he’s more of a receiver-to-TE convert. The production is there, at 73 catches for 934 yards and seven touchdowns. Gasden has pedigree, too, as dad, Oronde, played receiver for the Miami Dolphins. Could be a Baby Joker here.

Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame: Plucking guys from proven programs is usually a safe bet, and Evans was a main piece of a Notre Dame passing attack that didn’t really pass much in 2024, giving him more upside than his 2024 stats (43 catches, 418 yards) might indicate.

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