Dallen Bentley

Selected 256th overall (7th round, 2026 NFL Draft), reflecting rock-bottom organizational investment. The Broncos specifically traded up in the 5th round for Justin Joly, signaling Joly — not Bentley — is Denver's actual TE developmental priority.

Bentley enters a six-deep TE room: Evan Engram (starter), Adam Trautman (3-year deal), Lucas Krull (re-signed), Nate Adkins (re-signed), Justin Joly (5th round), and Bentley last. There is no realistic path to meaningful targets even if he survives initial cuts.

Multiple reports explicitly note Bentley is 'on thin ice' following Denver's trade-up for Joly. He faces a very real August cut risk, making the practice squad his most plausible best-case landing spot.

At 25 entering his NFL rookie season — after an LDS mission, walk-on at Snow College, and one breakout college year at Utah — his developmental runway is materially shorter than a typical TE prospect who usually needs 2-3 years before contributing.

Drafted primarily as a 'Y' inline blocker to complement Joly, the projected receiver. That archetype caps target share and fantasy relevance even if he makes the roster.

Bentley's blocking profile (6'4"/253 lbs, 24 bench reps, strong college grades as an in-line blocker) gives him a narrow path to a practice squad or 53-man special-teams role, extending his NFL shelf life beyond a pure receiving dart.

A significant Engram injury could theoretically force Denver deeper at TE, but Trautman and Joly would absorb targets well before Bentley, making this a very remote upside scenario.

Posted 48/620/6 with Mackey Award semifinalist honors at Utah in 2025 — he can run routes and work downfield, not purely a blocker, giving a sliver of developmental receiving upside.