The Denver Broncos wrapped up their rookie minicamp this past weekend.

There's plenty to be excited about regarding their 2025 NFL Draft class. Guys like cornerback Jahdae Barron and running back R.J Harvey should make an immediate impact, and others such as wide receiver Pat Bryant and defensive lineman Sai'Vion Jones could be important role players as rookies.

One of the more intriguing picks the Broncos made was their last, which was the seventh-round selection of tight end Caleb Lohner. A college basketball player for BYU and Utah, Lohner decided to give football a try for the first time in 2024. He recorded just four receptions for the Utes, but all four went for touchdowns, and he also caught a two-point conversion.

Broncos coach Sean Payton spoke to the media about Lohner's potential and how excited he is to work with him.

"So this is a basketball player for most of his career," Payton said. "He plays a year of football, count the snaps, count the catches. I get it. Yet you see traits, you see movements. I’m not a big fan of the Big 12 Pro Day because a player like him gets six routes instead of 20 that he would get at his own Pro Day. So hopefully that’s going away, but there are two or three clips where I’m like, ‘Play it again. Play it again.’

"Then when you watch him, and you watch him move, and even in our first two days here. People bring up Jimmy [Graham]. Now, Jimmy was a third-round pick. I get it, but there were some similarities in that. He only played a year, 80-something snaps. I think he [Graham] had 18 catches. So yes, we have to coach and develop. In other words, if it was already present when you watch him, and you guys see him, and shake his hand and stand next to him, like, ‘Holy cow.’ There are traits there that excite me. Then just visiting with him, and his intentionality and his excitement about it. I’m excited to watch it.”

It's hard not to make comparisons from Lohner to Graham, but obviously Lohner has a long way to go to scratch the surface of Graham's career. Lohner not only has to continue to learn the physical aspects of football (route running, blocking, tackling etc.), but the mental as well. That is difficult to do as a beginner at the NFL level.

However, as a seventh-round pick, there's no rush or pressure to get Lohner on the field in a regular season game any time soon. If he can make the most of his opportunities during practice and preseason games and continually show growth, he could secure a roster spot. Becoming like Graham is a best case scenario, but even Lohner being just a legitimate redzone threat would make Denver's investment in him a worthy one.