The Denver Broncos didn’t get the production they hoped for from the tight end position in 2025. Evan Engram wasn’t the dynamic joker the offense needed, and the rest of the room failed to be consistent. Nevertheless, the team brought back the entire room from last season to compete for a roster spot this season. However, I believe the Broncos will certainly add a player to the group via the 2026 NFL Draft.
A Day 3 prospect I believe has a lot of potential and would be a good fit for the Broncos is Texas Longhorns tight end Jack Endries. After spending his first two seasons catching passes from projected number one overall pick Fernando Mendoza, Endries transferred to Texas this past season. Even though his production dipped, he showcased his versatility as a player and has the traits and ability to be a productive NFL player.
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Let’s take a deeper look into Endries’ strengths and weakness. Last but not least, we will look at why and when the Broncos should consider selection him in this year’s draft.
Player Profile: Jack Endries — Tight End — Texas
Height: 6’5” | Weight: 245 pounds | Arm Length: 31-1/8” | Hand Size: 9-5/8” | Age: 22 Years Old
40-yard dash: 4.62 seconds | 10-yard split: 1.59 seconds | Vertical: 36” | Broad Jump: 9’-11”
Statistics at Cal and Texas: 39 games played, 124 catches, 1,376 receiving yards, 7 touchdowns.
Film Room & Highlights
Hart’s Scouting Report
Positives:
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Good size for the position with adequate athleticism
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Quality hops and has the toughness and ability to routinely come down with contested catches
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Versatile player who has seen reps at Y and F, in addition to being split out wide and as an H-Back
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Extensive playing time and experience with over 2,100 career collegiate snaps
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Gains steam heading up the seam and is a reliable chain-moving option
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Nearly half of all his yardage came after the catch
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Boasts less than a 4-percent drop rate and reeled in over 70-percent of all his targets
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Durable and reliable player lauded by coaches and fellow teammates for his football character
Negatives:
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Sports one of the lowest yards per route ran of any tight end in this class
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Routes lack polish and he may have trouble separating against man coverage
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Gives adequate effort as a run blocker and hits his marks on the move, but his short arms and lack of strength may prove to be too much of a liability to get much run in-line in the pros
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Production dipped after his transfer from Cal this past season, looked much better in ‘23 and ‘24 compared to this past season with the Longhorns
Hart’s Projection: Top 150 Selection (Fifth Round Value)
Why the Denver Broncos should consider drafting Endries
The Broncos’ tight end room for 2026 is currently scheduled to feature every player from last season. It’s a unit that didn’t perform well as a whole and has room for major improvement. They certainly need to add a prospect into the mix that offers some upside in any capacity.
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This year’s tight end class doesn’t have a lot of top-tier options, but I really like the depth. Endries has the talent and skill set to be one of the better prospects in this class if he lands in the right situation. He may not stand out particularly in any sort of fashion, but he was a reliable player throughout his collegiate career and made the most of his opportunities.
Denver has two fourth round picks at 108 and 111 respectively. That’s a bit too early to take Endries in my opinion. Though I’m not sure he slides to their late fifth-round selection at 170 overall. If the Broncos want to select Endries, trading back from one of their fourth rounders and gaining an additional Top 150 selection would be their best bet.
He seems like a jack-of-all trades prospect who can be deployed in various fashions. I think that’s something Head Coach Sean Payton and Offensive Coordinator Davis Webb will be intrigued by. On top of that, the Broncos’ brass will undoubtedly like his experience, toughness, and football character.
Endries may never be a dynamic playmaker in the NFL, but his skillset should allow him to become a nice complementary number two tight end for NFL offenses. He would help raise the floor of the Broncos’ tight end room and he seems like the type of prospect who will significantly outperform his draft slot.
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