Although the Denver Broncos may not have a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft, there may be an interesting player on the board with their first pick coming at 62nd overall.
The Broncos have long been linked to a tight end ahead of the NFL draft, not only to improve their current tight end room, but to boost the group in the future. Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer previewed the needs of all 32 NFL teams, as well as suggesting a few players who could help each team on Monday. For the Broncos, Breer had a clear vision for the team.
"The bad news is Denver has just one pick in the Top 100, and it’s pretty far down there," wrote Breer. "The good news is the roster is well-stocked, so they’d be picking a year ahead of needs in most cases. With that in mind, a couple GMs gave Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers as an incredible fit for Sean Payton. One exec said to me plainly, 'That’s a Sean Payton joker all day.' The problem is they may have to move up from 62 to get him. It’d be fun to see them try to do that."
Stowers has been linked to Denver through several mock drafts across multiple outlets, making him an incredibly popular pick for Denver in the second round. Stowers (6-4, 239 pounds) is a former quarterback who ran a 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds and broke the tight end record with a 45.5-inch vertical jump at the NFL combine. He totaled 111 receptions for 1,407 yards and nine touchdowns in two seasons (25 games) with the Commodores following stints at New Mexico State and Texas A&M.
Denver has hinted at the possibility of moving up in the NFL draft, perhaps in the second round. We'll find out what's in store when the second round begins on Friday evening.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL draft: GMs view Eli Stowers as ‘incredible fit’ for Denver Broncos