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.

Advertisement

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.

Most analysts projected Joly to be a late Day 2 or early Day 3 player, but he slipped into the 5th round, and the Broncos had to pounce. They got some good value and a tight end who could turn into a potential playmaker for the Broncos moving forward.

He will pair with fellow rookie tight end Dallen Bentley to give the Broncos two young tight ends and give the team some youth and some much-needed new blood to their tight end room.