Broncos head coach Sean Payton knows a little something about turning former collegiate basketball players into star NFL tight ends.
He and the Saints did so with Jimmy Graham after taking him in the third round of the 2010 draft, and Payton would be thrilled with a similar outcome -- or anything even remotely close -- after spending a seventh-round pick (No. 241) on Utah's Caleb Lohner.
Lohner, like Graham, played just one season of college football. His limited sample size muddied the evaluation waters, but his raw potential, coupled with a 6-foot-7 frame, made him a perfect candidate for Denver's final pick of the 2025 draft.
"It's hard," Payton said of the decision to draft someone with such little experience, via the team transcript. "Going back with Jimmy Graham, I think he had 14, 15 catches. Both of them had a season. Both of them were very good basketball players. Now in Jimmy's case, there was a lot more. He was a combine invite. We're late in this draft and you're rooting for some guys and you see upsides in 6'7", 245 pounds. You can see the basketball skill set, that's easy, at a high level. Then you're looking at a small amount of playing time and yet enough to where you're watching them. I think the other thing that helped was watching him at the Big 12 Pro Day. There were just a few plays that you see movement skills and it's a lot to work with. If it turns out like the last one did, then we'd be really excited.
"You go all the way back in our league, historically, (Antonio) Gates was signed, I believe, undrafted and so it's kind of one of those things where the body types for the tight end, it's not like they're making less of them, they may be playing volleyball and they may be playing basketball but it's projecting. When you get a chance to see him play football, he goes through a season of putting pads on but his movement skills and his height, weight and his eye, hand coordination there's a lot of developmental upsides and we're excited about that."
Lohner spent two years each playing basketball for BYU and Baylor as a forward. After graduating from Baylor in 2024, he transferred to Utah, where he played 22 games on the hardcourt but, more importantly, began the football journey that would lead to hearing his name on Day 3.
He appeared in 12 games for Utes football program and produced a limited but fascinating stat line. Although he caught only four passes, all of them went for touchdowns. He also scored a two-point conversion and blocked a field goal. He comes to the NFL with just 54 receiving yards in his collegiate football career.
Lohner's learning curve will be steep, no matter the intangibles he brings.
"Some translate like jumping and high pointing the ball," he said regarding which basketball skills are transferrable, "but there's a lot that comes with football that I'm so excited to keep dissecting and keep getting into the fundamentals and technique and all these things that are going to help me be a great football player for the Broncos."
And no pressure, but the two players Payton mentioned are easily the loftiest-possible ceiling to aim for.
Graham joined the Saints after his single collegiate football season at Miami (17 catches for 213 yards and five TDs). He became a mismatch nightmare in short order, making five Pro Bowls and going on to amass 8,545 yards and 89 TDs on 719 receptions.
Gates, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, didn't play a single down of college football. He transitioned from a member of Kent State's basketball program to an undrafted marvel for the Chargers. After a 16-year career, Gates stands as the all-time TE leader in touchdowns with 116, while his 955 receptions and 11,841 both rank fourth at the position.
As reference points, Graham and Gates provide solid reasoning for Denver's late-round dart throw. However, there's plenty of similar multisport athletes drafted or signed as UDFAs and long since forgotten about.
For now, Lohner's mission is simply to further learn the game and make the team. He joins a tight end room led by Evan Engram and Adam Trautman, and enters the offseason program in competition with experienced players like Lucas Krull and Nate Adkins.
Making his mark is far from a slam dunk, but he's relishing the opportunity.
"I couldn't have been happier," Lohner said about being drafted. "I just wanted an opportunity, and I genuinely believe that wherever I am -- and now being part of the Broncos organization -- I'm going to do everything I can to help win. I know I don't have a ton of football under my belt, but that's exactly why I'm playing the game because I've developed a passion and love. I was so excited. I think it's something you dream about in sports. So here we are now."
