Broncos sign rookie TE Justin Joly to a four-year contract
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 21: Justin Joly #7 of the NC State Wolfpack celebrates a touchdown during the second half of a football game against the Florida State Seminoles at Carter-Finley Stadium on November 21, 2025 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images According to 9NEWS Denver’s Broncos insider Mike Klis, the Denver Broncos have signed rookie 5th round pick, tight end Justin Joly, to a four-year deal. #Broncos and 5th-round TE Justin Joly have agreed to terms on a 4-year contract per source.
— MikeKlis9NEWS (@mikeklis9news) May 7, 2026 Joly is a 6-3, 245-pound tight end with 32 3/4 inch arms and 10 5/8 inch hands and profiles as a contested catch move tight end who will be a weapon in the middle of the field and in the red zone. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had Justin Joly as his TE5 in this draft and had a 3rd/4th round grade on him. Now, the Broncos trade up to get him in the 5th round.
Brugler calls Joly a versatile pass catcher, and due to his athleticism, ball skills, and upside, he profiles as a three-level threat. Joly is a good-sized athlete who can drop his weight at the top of routes and uncover with foot quicks and savvy. He has large, strong hands and has developed into a ball winner with his ability to frame the catch and finish, regardless of his surroundings.
He competes as a blocker and has the coordination to stay attached but lacks the body power to dominate the point of attack. Joly is a versatile pass catcher, because of his athleticism, ball skills and upside as a three-level threat. Built in the mold of Jonnu Smith, he is more Robin than Batman and ideally suited as a “move” tight end in a 12-personnel offense.
Joly was drafted to give the Broncos some life to their tight end room, which was not very good last season. Veteran Evan Engram failed to live up to expectations after being signed to be the ’Joker’, and Adam Trautman is mostly used to block. Joly is a contested catch monster and can be a receiving threat in the middle of the field and in the red zone/end zone for quarterback Bo Nix.