As the dust settles on the 2025 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos’ approach to upgrading their tight end room remains a topic of concern. Despite a clear need for improvement at the position, Denver’s moves suggest they may still be walking a tightrope heading into the new season.

Tight end productivity was a problem — is Evan Engram the solution or just a stopgap?

The Broncos’ tight end corps struggled mightily in 2024, with Lucas Krull leading the group with just 19 receptions. That level of production is far from what’s expected in a modern NFL offense, especially one that lacks elite wide receiver depth.

In response, Denver made a splash by signing veteran Evan Engram in free agency. A former Pro Bowler, Engram posted an impressive 100 receptions in 2023. However, red flags remain. The 30-year-old missed eight games last season due to injury and has a history of durability issues. Additionally, while Engram can be a high-volume target, concerns persist about his ability to generate yards after the catch — a critical skill in Sean Payton’s offense.
If Engram is sidelined again, Denver could be forced to rely on a group that already proved inadequate last season. That’s a troubling possibility for a team trying to build a stable foundation around a still-developing quarterback situation.

Late-round flier Caleb Lohner is intriguing, but far from ready

Rather than targeting tight end help early in the draft, Denver waited until the seventh round to select Caleb Lohner — a player better known for his basketball resume than football. The 6’8″ Lohner played hoops at Baylor, BYU, and Utah before switching to football, where he recorded just four catches — all touchdowns — in one season.
Lohner is clearly a long-term developmental project, not a plug-and-play contributor. While his size and athleticism make him an intriguing red-zone weapon, he’s unlikely to offer meaningful production in 2025.
Also Read: Jacksonville Jaguars’ 2025 draft blunder: Skipping defensive tackle could ruin their season
With the season approaching, Denver’s tight end room hinges heavily on Engram staying healthy and producing at a high level. The team may look to bolster the position via late free-agent signings or post-camp roster cuts, but as of now, depth and experience remain thin.
If Engram goes down, it’s hard to see how the Broncos avoid falling back into the same offensive rut. The potential is there — but so are the risks.

DENVER — The Trump administration has rescinded $24 million in federal grants promised to the City of Denver, following through on a threat to withhold funding over the city’s sheltering of newly arrived immigrants.

Denver7 first reported on the threat in March. During a Department of Finance presentation to the Denver City Council on Monday, it was publicly confirmed that the city will not be reimbursed millions of dollars.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) terminated three Shelter and Services Program grants, which totaled roughly $32 million. During Monday’s meeting, Budget Director Justin Sykes said only about $7 million to $8 million has been received, meaning the remaining amount of roughly $24 million will not be reimbursed to the city.

It’s one of the largest grants the city has been monitoring, according to Sykes.

In a letter dated April 1, a FEMA official wrote, “The Department, consistent with President Trump’s direction, is focused on advancing the essential mission of enforcing immigration laws and securing the border.” As a result, “grant programs that support, or have the potential to support, illegal immigration through funding illegal activities or support for illegal aliens that is not consistent with DHS’s enforcement do not effectuate the agency’s current priorities.”

• Read the full letter from FEMA below

Sykes said the city typically uses $100 million to $200 million worth of grants each year, with a “vast majority” being federal grants.

“The city does not have the capacity, if all of that federal funding were to go away, to backfill it. And so, that is another risk that we are carefully monitoring and very concerned about,” Sykes told the councilmembers. “There have been several grant terminations. The federal government will have to pass a new budget for its fiscal year that would start in October, and so, we don’t have a lot of answers. That’s something we’re concerned about and continuing to monitor.”

Since late 2022, Denver has served 42,911 newcomers.

The conversation with Denver City Council came on the same day as a new executive order from President Donald Trump that asks Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to compile a list of states and local jurisdictions that “obstruct federal immigration laws.” The order calls such locations “sanctuary jurisdictions,” and the goal is to bring them “into compliance” with the federal government when it comes to immigration.

As part of the order, federal funds like grants and contracts that are given to sanctuary jurisdictions can be identified for suspension or termination.

Four Democratic mayors, including Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, were called to testify before Congress in March about their so-called “sanctuary cities.”

Denver has never officially called itself a sanctuary city. It was given that title under President Trump’s first administration.

In 2017, the first Trump administration asked for “sanctuary cities,” including Denver, to help U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its crackdown on immigration. In response, then-Mayor Michael Hancock signed an executive order that created a legal defense fund for people threatened with or in removal proceedings and ordered the Denver Sheriff Department, which operates the city’s jail, not to seek federal funding that required the department to gather and release information about a person’s immigration or citizenship status.

In response to the executive order, a spokesperson for Colorado Governor Jared Polis said, “Colorado is not a sanctuary state, and Governor Polis has been clear that when it comes to criminal investigations or prosecutions, local law enforcement should be working with federal partners, in accordance with state and federal law, to fight crime. Governor Polis continues urging Congress to do their jobs to secure our border and pass comprehensive immigration reform.”

The Denver Broncos’ list of players invited to try out at rookie mini camp includes one quarterback and two running backs.

Denver has invited quarterback Blake Stenstrom (Princeton), running back Aaron Young (Old Dominion) and running back Travis Theis (South Dakota), plus at least nine others.

Stenstrom spent two years as a backup at Colorado before transferring to Princeton. He went 209-of-352 for 2,250 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2023 against five interceptions. The Highlands Ranch native went to rookie minicamp with the Philadelphia Eagles last year.

Young spent five years at Rutgers before transferring to Old Dominion ahead of the 2024 season. He rushed 172 times for 887 yards and eight touchdowns in 11 games last fall.

Theis earned first-team All-MVFC honors in 2024 after rushing 187 times for 1,172 yards and 19 touchdowns. Young and Theis will be joined by second-round pick RJ Harvey at the rookie camp.

In addition to drafting seven rookies, the Broncos have also reached agreements with 15 undrafted free agents. As it stands now, the drafted rookies, UDFAs signees and invited players will give the team a 34-player squad for rookie camp. More signings and tryout invites could be on the way. View the list of known invites below.

Broncos rookie minicamp invites

1. QB Blake Stenstrom, Princeton (source)
2. RB Aaron Young, Old Dominion (source)
3. RB Travis Theis, South Dakota (source)
4. TE/WR Mikey Harrison, San Diego State (source)
5. OL Gabe Clark, Central Missouri (source)
6. OL Justin Mayers, Colorado (source)
7. OL Cameron Cooper, Lindenwood (source)
8. DE Zach Kennedy, UC Davis (source)
9. OLB Makeah Scippio, CSU Pueblo (source)
10. S C.J. Baskerville, Texas Tech (source)
11. K John Hoyland, Wyoming (source)
12. LS Christian Johnstone, App State (source)

The Broncos have not yet officially announced dates for their rookie camp, but in a story about offensive lineman Cameron Cooper being invited to camp, Lindenwood University said the camp will run from May 8-10.

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