Broncos rookie hoping basketball-to-NFL route resembles Jimmy Graham's path with Sean Payton

The Denver Broncos' most intriguing rookie played 57 snaps of college football.

They hope he can turn into a player resembling Saints legend Jimmy Graham.

That's the hype around Caleb Lohner, who Denver took in the seventh-round of last month's draft.

Lohner was a college basketball player (BYU, Baylor, Utah) who only joined the Utes for the 2024 college football season.

He had nine targets, catching four, all touchdowns.

Lohner measures at 6-foot-7, 250 pounds and ran a 4.69-second 40-yard dash with a 37-inch vertical leap at the Big 12 Pro Day.

"You're looking at a small amount of playing time and yet enough to where you're watching them," coach Sean Payton told ESPN. "I think the other thing that helped was watching him at the Big 12 pro day. There were just a few plays that you see movement skills and it's a lot to work with. If it turns out like the last one did, then we'd be really excited."

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That last sentence alludes to Graham, who played just 13 games for Miami's football team along with his four years as a Hurricanes hooper.

Graham was a superstar for the Saints as one of the best tight ends in football.

The Broncos can be patient with Lohner. Franchise QB Bo Nix is only entering his second season, and this Denver team should be on the rise for the next few years. 

If Lohner develops into a star, it'll be the perfect development to pair with other improvements all around the Broncos.

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