Broncos HC Sean Payton sends clear message following the drafting of TE Caleb Lohner

Denver Broncos are one of the many teams that showed significant growth last season in the NFL, not only through their gameplay but also backed by the results. To continue this upward trajectory, Sean Payton and his front office decided to bet on TE Caleb Lohner in this year’s draft, adding a new weapon for Bo Nix. However, there remains some uncertainty about what the former Utah player can bring to the table.

What are the doubts surrounding what the tight end might bring to the NFL? Lohner only played one season in College Football, as he previously played basketball at BYU and Baylor.

However, despite the hard work it takes to develop a player for this level, Sean Payton has experience in this area. He helped guide Jimmy Graham to his prime with the Saints, another player who began his career as a basketball player.

“It’s hard,” Payton said 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.“

Lohner confident in his growth potential in the NFL

Lohner’s arrival to the Broncos was met with some skepticism, given his recent background in basketball rather than football. Despite this, the former Utah tight end is confident that he can learn a lot in his new role and apply many of the moves he used during his time on the basketball court.

“Some translate like jumping and high pointing the ball,” he said to the press. “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.”

It will be a matter of seeing how Lohner’s career in the NFL ultimately develops, something that remains a complete unknown at this point. However, Sean Payton is confident in his ability to develop him in the best possible way.