ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Every year, rookie minicamp brings a handful of names that casual fans haven't heard of. This weekend, that name was Caleb Lohner.
The undrafted tight end turned heads at the Denver Broncos' three-day rookie minicamp, held May 8-10, and head coach Sean Payton didn't hold back when asked about the 6-foot-8, 246-pound target. Payton offered a detailed scouting report on Lohner, who is attempting one of the most difficult transitions in football: from college basketball to the NFL.
"Caleb is a guy that we've been keeping an eye on for a little while," Payton said in his post-minicamp press conference. "You see the frame, the catch radius. He's raw, but there's something there. You can't teach 6-8 with that kind of movement."
For a Broncos team that has spent the offseason overhauling its tight end room, Lohner's emergence -- even in a developmental capacity -- is worth a closer look.
From the Hardwood to the Hash Marks
Lohner's path to the NFL is unconventional. He played three seasons of college basketball at BYU before transferring to Utah, where he appeared in 26 games for the Utes' basketball program. He did not play a single snap of college football.
NFL teams have long been intrigued by the idea of converting basketball players to tight ends. The logic is simple: size, body control, and contested-catch ability translate. What doesn't translate? Blocking technique, route-running nuance, and understanding pass coverage.
That's where Lohner is starting from scratch. And Payton acknowledged the steep learning curve.
"Look, he's a basketball player learning football. That's not easy," Payton said. "But he showed us some things in individual drills -- catching the ball away from his body, high-pointing it. Those are basketball skills that you can't just teach a guy in six weeks."
The Broncos' coaching staff worked Lohner extensively in red-zone and seven-on-seven drills during minicamp. At 6-8, he presents a mismatch against even the tallest defensive backs and linebackers. In one notable rep, Lohner went up for a jump ball in the back corner of the end zone, timing his leap perfectly to snag a pass over a defensive back's outstretched hands.
Where Lohner Fits on the Roster
Right now, Lohner is a long shot. But the Broncos' tight end room has plenty of room for a developmental player.
The team enters the 2026 season with a veteran-heavy group headlined by Evan Engram, who was signed as a free agent to provide a reliable receiving threat over the middle. Behind Engram, the depth chart includes Adam Trautman, a blocking-first tight end, and Lucas Krull, who has flashed athleticism but hasn't yet locked down a consistent role.
Nate Adkins, Dallen Bentley, and Justin Joly round out the group, but none have established themselves as clear locks for the 53-man roster.
That opens the door for Lohner to compete for a practice squad spot, or even a low-roster role if he shows enough during training camp. Payton specifically mentioned that the team values positional versatility, and Lohner's size gives him an interesting niche as a big slot or red-zone target.
"We're going to take a good look at him in training camp," Payton said. "He's got to learn the playbook, he's got to learn how to get in and out of breaks, but the talent is there. We'll see how quickly he can pick it up."
The Payton Track Record
Sean Payton has never been afraid to take chances on unconventional prospects. During his time in New Orleans, Payton's staff developed undrafted free agents like Josh Hill into productive tight ends. He also worked with Jimmy Graham -- another basketball-to-football convert -- who became one of the most dominant tight ends of his era.
The Graham comparison will inevitably follow Lohner. But Payton was careful not to put that kind of pressure on a player who has yet to participate in a padded practice.
"Every guy is different," Payton said. "Jimmy had a unique skillset. He was a power forward in basketball, and he had that mindset. Caleb is still finding his way. But the traits are similar. That's why we brought him in."
It's important to remember that Graham was a third-round pick who spent a year learning the position at the University of Miami before entering the NFL. Lohner is taking the express lane from the hardwood directly to NFL minicamp. That makes his development timeline even more challenging.
What's Next for Lohner
The Broncos will now transition from rookie minicamp to organized team activities (OTAs) and mandatory minicamp later this month. For Lohner, the next few weeks will be critical.
He needs to:
Learn the playbook -- Without a college football background, Lohner is essentially learning an entirely new language. Payton's offense is known for its complexity, with pre-snap motions and route adjustments that require a deep understanding of defensive coverages.
Refine his route-running -- Basketball players often rely on their size to get open, but NFL coverage schemes require precise route stems, breaks, and tempo changes. Lohner will be working closely with the tight ends coach to develop those fundamentals.
Prove he can block -- The biggest question mark for any basketball convert is whether they can hold up in the run game. Even in today's pass-happy NFL, tight ends are asked to contribute as blockers on at least a third of snaps. Lohner's 6-8 frame gives him leverage issues at the point of attack, and defensive ends will eat him alive if he can't learn proper hand placement and pad level.
Payton indicated the team will give Lohner every opportunity to develop. But with the start of training camp just over two months away, the clock is ticking.
"We're going to see where he's at in July," Payton said. "That's when the real evaluation starts."
Final Thoughts
Caleb Lohner is the definition of a camp curiosity right now. He has the size and athleticism that make scouts dream, but he's years -- not months -- away from being an NFL-ready tight end.
What's encouraging for Broncos fans is that Payton and the coaching staff are willing to invest time in a project with that kind of upside. In a tight end room that could use a dynamic red-zone threat, Lohner offers a skillset no one else on the roster possesses.
Will he make the 53-man roster? Probably not. But if he clears waivers and lands on the practice squad, the Broncos could have a fascinating development project for the 2026 season and beyond.
For now, rookie minicamp gave us a first look at a player who could become a household name -- or a footnote. Either way, Sean Payton made it clear: Caleb Lohner is on the radar.
Stay tuned to Denver Broncos coverage for continued updates on rookie minicamp takeaways, roster battles, and training camp previews.