Sean Payton hasn’t blinked all offseason when talking about his plans for the Broncos. He wants a backfield threat. He wants to make Bo Nix’s job easier. He wants that coveted RB, or TE spot, or an all-encompassing hybrid superstar that people have come to know as the elusive Joker. Because in his eyes, it’s simple: there are just two ways to help a QB. First, “A good defense.” The second, as he said, “Obviously, a really good running game.” Interestingly, with a pick at 20, all signs point toward his wishes being fulfilled come Draft night. But hold up—something’s shifting in Denver’s war room, and it smells like a late twist. Let’s roll back the time.

Just days before the draft kicks off, CBS insider Jonathan Jones claimed: “There’s no question the Denver Broncos are interested in trading up. Where they trade up will be interesting. I would expect GM George Paton to try to find a soft spot in the teens, since teams above that won’t want to go to No. 20. I sent Omarion Hampton to them in my mock, but don’t rule out a tight end for Denver.” But why a tight end now when Denver already grabbed his Joker Evan Engram in free agency? See, Payton’s never been a one-tight-end kind of a guy. He sees mismatches everywhere. Bo Nix needs easy throws. Red zone weapons. Plus, a versatility in motion. Wondering who that could be?

Despite the Broncos tossing a two-year, $23 million deal at Evan Engram in March, and him openly accepting the role with a GIF of the late Heath Ledger portraying the Joker from The Dark Knight, Payton is not done. Reports state Michigan Wolverines’ Colston Loveland might be the Joker. According to 9NEWS insider Mike Klis earlier this week, “Now, I had crossed off Colston Loveland when the Broncos signed Evan Engram, but now I’m beginning to hear they would like a young ‘joker’ tight end to develop right behind him and along with him. I think that would be a luxury that would still surprise me. But from what I understand, the Broncos really like Colston Loveland.”

And this isn’t just a passing crush—they might be ready to go the extra mile on draft night. Think of Loveland under Engram as grooming a future mismatch machine—like grooming Shannon Sharpe 2.0 but taller, leaner, and potentially sneakier downfield. But this could get spicy real quick. Loveland’s floor, as many mockers call it, sits around pick 14 with the Colts. So, if Indy passes, the Seahawks at 18 are lurking too. You think Sean Payton’s going to sit around and hope Loveland just lands in his lap at 20? Not likely. Especially when the numbers don’t lie.

Colston Loveland’s 2024 Season Stats

• Games Played: 10
• Receptions: 56
• Receiving Yards: 582
• Touchdowns: 5
• Yards Per Catch: 10.4

Career Stats (Michigan)

• Games Played: 39
• Receptions: 117
• Receiving Yards: 1,466
• Touchdowns: 11
• Career PFF Grade: 90.8

Long story short, Loveland was that person in Michigan’s passing game. Smooth out of his breaks, hands like flypaper, and a knack for finding soft spots in coverage. Plus, the fact that the Broncos want explosion, versatility, and someone who can bail Bo Nix out on 3rd-and-oh-no. So, for that, he fits right in Denver.

No dearth of trust in Colston’s abilities

Coming off of the Wolverines with a staggering 35-6 record, Loveland had often been touted as the best tight end in college football. The belief in him was so much so that despite a shoulder surgery keeping him unfit to play, his surgeon Dr. Neal Elattrache took it upon himself to write a letter to all 32 NFL teams to assure them of the player’s readiness to join the NFL, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

“The purpose of this letter is to confirm that Colston Chase Loveland is under my care for an orthopaedic condition. Patient sustained a Type V AC joint dislocation in September of 2024 and proceeded to participate in the NCAA season with very limited missed time. He noted some difficulty in his post season training leading to an arthroscopic posterior labral repair, open reconstruction of coracoid clavicular ligaments with semitendinous allograft, and repair and reconstruction of the AC joint capsule of the right shoulder on 1/29/2025,” the statement included, before adding:

“He has experienced no post operative complications nor delays to his early rehabilitation process and has been very compliant. At his last exam, he already has easy early passive and active assisted range of motion. He has excellent early return of the size and tone of the muscles of the shoulder girdle. His x-rays show anatomic AC joint alignment and anatomic coracoid clavicular distance with anatomicallly placed clavicular tunnel with graft and dogbone. I anticipate that he will be able to run, sprint, and run pass patterns without contact by mini-camp and that he will be cleared for team drills and unrestricted football activities by the 2025 NFL preseson camp,” the letter concluded. And to add to that, even the Wolverines’ tight ends coach coach doubled down.

“Colston has been great of late down the stretch. He missed the game as a result of injury. But ever since he’s come back, he’s performed at a really high level. He’s a huge part of our offense. We’ve been able to get him open. He’s gotten himself open. When it’s a realistic play to be made, he’s making it right now. So that’s a credit to him. He’s playing really good. Fortunate to have him. He’s fun to watch, fun to coach. Makes me look like a good coach. So he’s awesome.”

“I’ve never coached in the NFL, but from my time here, my time at Ferris State, I’ve been around a handful of NFL players. I’ve only ever been to one NFL practice in my life. If he’s not ready to go play in the NFL, I don’t know who would be. Like, he’s outstanding. I think when you compare his movement skills, his athleticism, ball skills, all that kind of stuff, I think you could compare him against NFL players,” the coach concluded.

Bottom line—Payton still wants his “joker.” And if the Broncos see Loveland as that guy, that’s it. They are getting him. But hey, (this is for Denver), after all, it’s all to give Nix more weapons, right?