Broncos Predicted To Add Long Term Solution in 6-foot-4, 240-Pound TE

The Denver Broncos haven’t had a really elite tight end in a generation, dating back to Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe being one of the biggest stars on back-to-back Super Bowl winning teams in the late 1990s.

The closest they may have come might be on the roster right now after signing 2-time Pro Bowl tight end Evan Engram to a 2-year, $23 million contract.

Engram, unfortunately, will turn 31 years old before the regular season opener and can’t be looked at as a long term solution at the position. That might come in the 2026 NFL draft, where Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski predicts they’ll draft 6-foot-4, 240-pound Ohio State tight end Max Klare at No. 20 overall.

“Ohio State’s Max Klare is a nuanced route-runner who does a great job of getting into and exploiting space,” Sobleski wrote on August 15. “He’s a threat after the catch and will be a mismatch to smaller defensive backs and bigger linebackers with his speed. He’s used in a variety of ways and is a willing blocker with sound technique. He’d be a great addition to the weapons surrounding quarterback Bo Nix and the eventual No. 1 tight end in Denver.”

Klare has drawn comparisons to current Washington Commanders tight end, Super Bowl champion and 3-time Pro Bowler Zach Ertz in the past.

Ohio State TE Max Klare is going to put up some elite numbers this year pic.twitter.com/UlP1fVJO1D

— Joe DeLeone (@joedeleone) June 10, 2025

Klare Left Downtrodden Program for Buckeyes

Klare could solidify his draft stock in 2025 by helping lead the Buckeyes to a second consecutive national championship and should have plenty of opportunities underneath with projected 2027 NFL draft No. 1 overall pick Jeremiah Smith running routes at wide receiver.

In 2024, Klare was possibly the one highlight on one of the worst seasons in Purdue history as the Boilermakers went 1-11 but he had 51 receptions for 685 yards and 4 touchdowns on the way to being named All-Big Ten.

Klare only had 2 receptions for 13 yards in a 45-0 loss to Ohio State and his future teammates last season, but the Buckeyes were the only team that truly shut him down in 2024. He had his best game of the year in a 50-49 overtime loss at No. 23 Illinois with 6 receptions for 133 yards.

ESPN draft experts Jordan Reid and Matt Miller both have Klare on their lists of the Top 5 tight end prospects in the 2026 draft class.

From NFL Draft Buzz: “Max Klare’s path to becoming one of the nation’s premier tight end prospects wasn’t exactly linear. The Cincinnati St. Xavier product began his collegiate journey at Purdue, where he quickly made waves as a dynamic pass-catcher. After establishing himself as the Boilermakers’ leading receiver with 51 catches for 685 yards and four touchdowns in 2024, the 6’4″, 240-pounder made the jump to Ohio State, elevating both his draft stock and national profile.”

Broncos Took TE Late in 2025 NFL Draft

The Broncos have already shown they’re sniffing around for a new tight end — the most obvious sign of which was they selected Utah’s Caleb Lohner in the seventh round (No. 241 overall) of the 2025 NFL draft.

Lohner, 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds, played 5 seasons of college basketball at BYU, Baylor and Utah before he played one season of college football and had just 4 receptions in 2024 — although all 4 were for touchdowns.