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Denver Broncos may not have known the name Justin Joly before the 2026 NFL Draft.
Now, though, he's a guy that they probably should start getting excited about.
Joly was just a fifth-round pick out of North Carolina State, but the athletic tight end has a chance to make an impact early and often.
ESPN's Field Yates included Joly on his list of Day 2-3 draft picks who can make an "instant impact." Given that Denver is an AFC contender, having a young player contribute immediately would certainly be a plus.
"Sean Payton-coached teams have long emphasized having a 'Joker' -- a running back or tight end who creates mismatches in the passing game," Yates writes. "The Broncos signed Evan Engram last offseason to fill that role, but his numbers (50 catches, 461 yards, one touchdown) were modest. Joly is a nimble, talented pass catcher who specializes in making catches outside his strike zone. He averaged more than 6.0 yards after the catch per reception his first three college seasons and didn't have a drop in 2025."
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The tricky part for Joly will be that Engram is still there. If he's meant to take over for Engram, that could be a gradual process, and maybe less immediate than Yates speculates.
Denver also has Adam Trautman, although he fills a more traditional tight end role.
In the modern NFL, teams seem to be deciding that they can't have too many tight ends, so in that context, Joly should also be useful to Sean Payton's offense.
Maybe the ideal scenario is that Joly can learn for a big chunk of the season and start to hit his stride by the end of the year, when he might be fresh and ready to show what he can do. If injuries come earlier, so be it -- Joly might be ready anyway.
It's certainly exciting for Broncos fans to have Joly on board as a potential key piece to the season ahead.
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