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Jeff Legwold
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton peppers the world “imaginative and prescient” liberally when speaking about gamers’ expertise and the place they may match on the roster.
That phrase illustrates Payton’s basis when determining how somebody matches in his gameplan. Some visions are instantly clear, whereas others, just like the one for Broncos’ rookie tight finish Caleb Lohner, would possibly want time to come back into focus.
Lohner was the ultimate decide of the Broncos’ seven-player draft class final month, a seventh-round choice (No. 241 general). And Denver’s decision-makers used a resume of 57 faculty soccer snaps and a big serving to of projection when deciding to take the previous faculty basketball participant.
“I simply needed a chance, and I genuinely consider that wherever I’m … I’ll do all the pieces I can to assist win,” Lohner stated. “I do know I haven’t got a ton of soccer underneath my belt, however that is precisely why I am taking part in the sport as a result of I’ve developed a ardour and love.”
Lohner performed just one season of faculty soccer. Earlier than these 57 snaps for Utah final season, he had not performed the game since center college. He had 4 catches for Utah on 9 targets in 2024, with all 4 receptions leading to touchdowns.
The remainder of the 6-foot-6, 250-pounder’s profile consists of 153 faculty basketball video games — 62 for BYU from 2020-22, 69 for Baylor from 2022-24 and 22 for Utah final season. He was not invited to the scouting mix however raised eyebrows on the Huge 12’s professional day, the place he ran a 4.69 40-yard sprint to go together with a 37-inch vertical bounce. His 40 would have been tied for second quickest amongst tight ends who ran on the mix and his vertical would have been third greatest.
“You are a small quantity of taking part in time and but sufficient to the place you are watching them,” Payton stated. “I believe the opposite factor that helped was watching him on the Huge 12 professional day. There have been only a few performs that you just see motion expertise and it is so much to work with. If it seems just like the final one did, then we would be actually excited.”
Payton’s “final one” was Jimmy Graham, who the New Orleans Saints drafted within the third spherical in 2010. Graham, a five-time Professional Bowl choice with 719 profession receptions and 89 profession touchdowns, performed 13 video games for Miami’s soccer workforce in 2009 (17 receptions, 5 touchdowns) to go together with 4 seasons with the Hurricanes’ basketball workforce. However Graham was way more on the draft radar in 2010 than Lohner was this 12 months.
Graham measured at 6-6, 260 kilos on the mix and wowed scouts with a 4.56 40 and a 38-1/2-inch vertical bounce. He went on to catch 35 passes in 15 video games in his rookie season for the Saints earlier than incomes second-team All-Professional honors in 2011 with 99 receptions for 1,310 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Lohner’s Broncos path would possibly carefully resemble the one Julius Thomas, Denver’s second fourth-round decide in 2011, took. Thomas walked on at Portland State in 2010 after taking part in just one 12 months of highschool soccer. He performed a school-record 121 video games in 4 seasons of basketball for the Vikings, setting the college file for discipline objective proportion (.663) in serving to Portland State to 2 Huge Sky Convention titles and two NCAA event appearances.
In his solely collegiate soccer season, Thomas had 29 catches, 453 yards and two touchdowns whereas averaging 15.6 yards per catch. Like Graham, Thomas had completed sufficient to be invited to the mix, the place he ran a 4.68 40 and had a 35 ½-inch vertical bounce.
The day after the Broncos chosen Thomas, then-general supervisor Brian Xanders stated; “He is acquired a giant athletic upside, and if he can achieve some weight and raise weights, he may very well be a 6-5, 260 [pound] man that may run in a pair years right here. We’re enthusiastic about him.”
Thomas took a pair years to emerge, as he mixed for 5 receptions in 9 video games in 2011-12. However Thomas broke out with back-to-back 12-touchdown seasons in 2013 and 2014 as considered one of Peyton Manning’s most-trusted targets earlier than signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars in free company in 2015.
So what sort of timetable will Lohner be on? The Broncos have been drawn to his general athletic expertise and physicality, particularly on pink zone performs, which they noticed as a glimpse into what he would possibly present early as he grows into the place.
“You take a look at the landing catches and, on a pair, he is simply overpowering the nook or the security, a again down and a straightforward catch,” stated an NFC common supervisor who hoped to signal Lohner as an undrafted free agent. “And considered one of our guys confirmed me a few of his basketball [highlights] and he is acquired some dunks you simply have to concentrate to.”
Lohner was considered one of 30 prospects the Broncos hosted at their facility within the weeks earlier than the draft. He joins a decent finish room that did not produce a lot in 2024, as Lucas Krull led all Broncos tight ends with 19 receptions. Denver additionally signed veteran Evan Engram to a two-year deal in free company, who Lohner can draw from as he adjusts to the NFL life.
“I simply wish to study,” Lohner stated. “I simply wish to be a part of the sport each day and develop the easiest way I can. Some [athletic traits] translate like leaping and high-pointing the ball, however there’s so much that comes with soccer.
“I am so excited to maintain dissecting and preserve entering into the basics and method and all this stuff which might be going to assist me be a fantastic soccer participant for the Broncos.”
