The Denver Broncos are putting the final touches on their 2026 draft class. According to sources confirmed by The Denver Post, the team has agreed to terms with fifth-round tight end Justin Joly and seventh-round safety Miles Scott, bringing both rookies into the fold on standard four-year deals.
These are the kinds of transactions that don't dominate headlines, but they matter. For a team like the Broncos -- one that is building depth through the middle and late rounds under general manager George Paton and head coach Sean Payton -- every signing carries weight. With rookie minicamp on the horizon, the paperwork is now official for two players who could carve out significant roles if they develop as the coaching staff hopes.
Let's break down what each player brings, where they fit on the roster, and why these signings are worth your attention.
Justin Joly: A Move Tight End With Room to Grow
Justin Joly was selected in the fifth round out of a program that isn't exactly a traditional NFL pipeline, but his tape made scouts take notice. At 6-foot-4 and around 245 pounds, Joly profiles as a move tight end -- a "Y" or "F" hybrid who can flex out, create mismatches against linebackers and safeties, and contribute in the passing game.
What jumps off the film is his ability to separate on crossers and option routes. He's not going to overpower NFL defenders with brute strength as a blocker, at least not yet, but he has soft hands and enough quickness to work the middle of the field. That skill set is tailor-made for what Sean Payton likes to do with his tight ends.
This is also a player who, back in early May, was reportedly told by the coaching staff to shed some weight -- a directive that suggests the Broncos see him as a pass-catching weapon first. If Joly can get leaner and quicker, he could become a dangerous seam threat in an offense that already features veterans Evan Engram and Adam Trautman.
Where Joly Fits in the Tight End Room
The Broncos' tight end depth chart is more crowded than you might think. Let's look at what the team currently carries at the position:
- Evan Engram (#1) - A proven veteran who can line up all over the formation.
- Adam Trautman (#82) - The in-line blocker, a Sean Payton favorite from their New Orleans days.
- Lucas Krull (#85) - An intriguing athlete who has flashed but needs consistency.
- Nate Adkins (#45) - A core special teamer and developmental piece.
- Caleb Lohner (#84) - A converted basketball player with raw tools.
- Dallen Bentley - A camp body.
That's five tight ends ahead of Joly on the depth chart -- plus a sixth in Bentley. So the path to a roster spot isn't a straight line. But Joly was a draft pick, not an undrafted free agent, and that alone gives him an edge in the competition.
Payton has historically kept three or four tight ends on the active roster. If Joly shows he can contribute on special teams -- something the coaching staff will evaluate closely during minicamp and training camp -- he could push for the fourth or fifth spot. His pass-catching upside might even make him a candidate for the practice squad if he needs a year to develop, though teams rarely let a Day 3 pick slip through waivers if they believe in the ceiling.
The rookie contract structure here is standard: four years with a modest signing bonus tied to his fifth-round slot. For the Broncos, it's a low-risk investment with the potential for a nice return if Joly hits his stride.
Miles Scott: A Special Teams Ace in the Making
With the 227th pick in the seventh round, the Broncos added Miles Scott, a safety from a smaller program who projects primarily as a special teams contributor early in his career. That's not a knock -- it's how seventh-rounders earn their keep, and it's how a player like Justin Strnad or Devon Key has stuck around on this roster.
Scott is a physical, aggressive defender who plays with his hair on fire. He's not the biggest safety (listed around 6-foot, 200 pounds), but he has good instincts in zone coverage and isn't afraid to come downhill and lay the wood. His college tape shows a player with a nose for the football and the willingness to take on blocks, traits that translate directly to coverage units and kick coverage teams.
Safety Depth: Where Scott Fits In
The Broncos' safety room is deeper than it has been in years. Let's look at the current group:
- Talanoa Hufanga (#9) - A former All-Pro who can do it all when healthy.
- Brandon Jones (#22) - A versatile veteran who plays both safety spots.
- JL Skinner (#34) - A 2023 draft pick still developing into a starter.
- Devon Key (#26) - A core special teamer and veteran depth.
- Tycen Anderson - Recently added, with his own special teams background.
That's five safeties ahead of Scott, and most of them are locked into roster spots. Hufanga and Jones are the starters. Skinner is a developmental project the team likes. Key and Anderson are special teams pillars.
For Miles Scott to make the 53-man roster, he will have to beat out at least one of those players -- or force the team to carry six safeties, which is rare in a modern NFL roster construct. The more likely path is that Scott sticks as a special teams ace, much like Karene Reid or Levelle Bailey have done at linebacker.
If he can make an immediate impact on punt coverage and kickoff return units -- and show enough defensive awareness to be an emergency fill-in -- the Broncos will gladly keep him around. The special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi has a track record of developing undrafted and late-round players into core special teamers. Scott could be his next project.
What These Signings Say About the Broncos' Draft Philosophy
Paton and Payton have been deliberate about building the roster through the middle and late rounds. Since 2024, the Broncos have used Day 3 selections on a mix of high-floor role players and high-ceiling athletes. Joly and Scott fit that mold.
Neither player is expected to start in 2026. That's not the point. The point is that the Broncos are trying to create a pipeline of cost-controlled talent that can fill specific roles -- pass-catching tight end depth, special teams coverage -- without breaking the bank in free agency.
Consider that the Broncos have invested premium resources at premium positions: quarterback (Bo Nix, Sam Ehlinger), cornerback (Pat Surtain II, Jahdae Barron), and edge rusher (Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper). That leaves the middle and late rounds for the "glue" players. Joly and Scott are exactly that.
There's also the new rookie salary cap rules that have made late-round picks even more valuable. A seventh-rounder like Scott will count for less than $800,000 against the cap in 2026. A fifth-rounder like Joly will be just slightly above that. In a league where every dollar matters, having players on rookie deals who can contribute on special teams or in sub-packages is a huge competitive advantage.
What Happens Next: Rookie Minicamp and Beyond
Both Joly and Scott will report for rookie minicamp later this month. That's where the real evaluation begins.
For Joly, the focus will be on his weight and conditioning. If he shows up leaner and more explosive than he was on tape, he could immediately leapfrog Lucas Krull or Nate Adkins on the depth chart. The Broncos will also test his ability to block on the move -- a non-negotiable in Payton's offense.
For Scott, it's all about the kicking game. He needs to show he can run down the field under a punt, avoid blockers, and make tackles in space. If he does that consistently, he will force the coaching staff to make a tough decision on a veteran like Devon Key or Tycen Anderson.
Both rookies will also get extensive work in the classroom, learning Payton's system and the defensive terminology under Vance Joseph. The early returns from minicamp will set the tone for training camp, where the real competition begins.
Final Thoughts
The Broncos didn't make a splashy free-agent addition this week. But locking up Joly and Scott to their rookie contracts is the kind of quiet, behind-the-scenes work that builds a sustainable roster.
For Joly, the path to a roster spot goes through the passing game. If he can become a dependable target over the middle and show improvement as a blocker, he could push for the No. 3 tight end job by September. For Scott, the path is on special teams. If he brings the energy and physicality that made him a seventh-round pick, he could become a locker room favorite and a core special teamer.
Either way, both players are now officially Broncos. And in the NFL, that's the first step -- sometimes the longest -- on the road to becoming a contributor.
Follow along with Broncos coverage as training camp approaches -- these are the kinds of roster moves that can make or break a season.