In his latest 2026 NFL mock draft for Pro Football Focus, Trevor Sikkema has the Denver Broncos using their first-round pick to address the tight end position.
Sikkema’s mock draft projects Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers landing in Denver at pick No. 30. This was his commentary with the pick:
As crazy as Kenyon Sadiq’s combine performance was, Stowers’ was even better in some ways. He jumped an astounding 45.5 inches in the vertical with an 11-foot-3 broad, both better than Sadiq’s numbers.
He won’t bring much in the blocking game, but as a true big receiver with a ton of athletic versatility, he would be a perfect fit in Denver.
Stowers (6-4, 239 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds and a 10-yard split in 1.59 seconds at the NFL combine. He was named a unanimous All-American and won the John Mackey Award — given to college football’s best tight end — after the 2025 season.
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In two seasons with the Commodores, Stowers totaled 111 receptions for 1,407 yards and nine touchdowns in 25 games. Before that, he had stints at New Mexico State and Texas A&M. Adam Trautman is set to become a free agent next week and Evan Engram has an uncertain future in Denver, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Broncos draft a TE early.
The 2026 NFL draft will be held in Pittsburgh from April 23-25. After receiving two compensatory picks, Denver will hold nine selections this spring.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: 2026 NFL mock draft: Broncos add new tight end for Bo Nix