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Broncos may have determined their top tight end target in 2026 NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Denver Broncos have one of the better rosters in the NFL heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, but there are a few glaring needs. One of those could be at the tight end position.
Last offseason, the team signed Evan Engram to a contract in free agency and he brought a lot of excitement with him. He seemed like the perfect player for Sean Payton's offense. But he posted pedestrian numbers and never seemed like much of a difference maker.
Engram has the talent to turn that all around in 2026, but the Broncos need more of a threat behind him. The team chose to bring back Adam Trautman, Nate Adkins and Lucas Krull on new contracts, but none of those players really move the needle. Instead, they are guys who Payton likes and is comfortable with.
However, Eli Stowers out of Vanderbilt is a player the Broncos appear to be doing a lot of work on and could be looking to select in the upcoming draft. Stowers is a hybrid tight end-wide receiver prospect who won't offer much in the way of blocking but can stretch the field with his athleticism and become a tough cover due to his size.
Could Broncos be looking at Eli Stowers in the 2026 NFL Draft?
This is the kind of player that has Payton written all over him. Many teams are beginning to use multiple tight end sets and Payton has always been a proponent of using more than one tight end.
Stowers was once a quarterback, but because of his ability to catch the ball, you'd never guess that. He has great hands and can turn short passes into huge gains due to his ability to run with the ball after the catch. Many Broncos fans have grown tired of Payton's usage of the short and bubble screen passes in recent years, but Stowers would excel on those plays.
If the Broncos are looking to maximize their tight end room, Stowers would be the perfect athletic addition to go with the veteran Engram and the rest of the group, who can all add to the team as blockers.
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That said, the Broncos' first pick won't come until No. 62 overall in the second round. Though they could take Stowers with that pick, they shouldn't pass up on one of these prospects listed here in his favor. Instead, looking to trade up into round three and select Stowers, should he be available, would be a tremendous move for this team.
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