Could Eli Stowers be the Broncos’ long-craved ‘joker’?

Broncos fans are probably sick of hearing about the “joker” by now — that word, of course, being Sean Payton’s term for a pass-catching target at tight end or running back who can operate from the interior of the field and cause matchup problems to open up the offense.

But it’s coming up on Year Four of the Payton Era in Denver and the search continues.

The Broncos may have found part of the answer at running back in RJ Harvey, whose receiving abilities — particularly in the red zone — helped him find his footing as a rookie. Five of his 12 touchdowns came via reception, and he had a higher success rate — 50 percent — as a pass catcher than as a runner (45.2 percent). It was the inverse for J.K. Dobbins, who had a receiving success rate of 35.7 percent and a rushing success rate of 53.6 percent, which showed how their skill sets and strengths complemented each other last year.

But at tight end, the Broncos continue their quest.

“It’s kind of like (looking for) the Loch Ness Monster, trying to find a ‘Joker,'” George Paton said at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine.

In 2023, Payton’s first season, they gave Greg Dulcich and Albert Okwuegbunam offseason and preseason looks. The latter didn’t make it to the regular season before being traded to Philadelphia; the former couldn’t stay healthy and landed on injured reserve after his first regular-season game under Payton’s watch.

In 2024, the salary-cap crunch and other pressing needs — starting with quarterback in Round 1 — took priority. So, even though Brock Bowers would have answered the question, the Broncos selected Bo Nix. Can’t quibble with that.

Last year, the free-agent swing went toward Evan Engram. But the Broncos passed on a deep tight-end class until selecting converted basketball player Caleb Lohner in Round 7. He’s still around after a practice-squad season, but if the development of another recent hoops-to-gridiron conversion — VCU product Mo Alie-Cox of the Indianapolis Colts — is an indication, significant pass-catching contribution could still be a while away. It wasn’t until Alie-Cox’s fourth season that he reached double digits in receptions.

And now, the Broncos are again looking at tight ends. They held formal interviews with at least five of them at the NFL Scouting Combine. At least three have visited Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit for “30” visits.

Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers has done both.

“He’s my No. 2 tight end,” NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said on a conference call with media this week.

“I think he’s a second-round pick all day long. And if you talk about that conversation that’s taking place in Denver forever about trying to find the ‘joker’ and finding the mismatch-type players, this definitely fits that bill.”

And Stowers checks plenty of boxes. Character. Leadership — he was a team captain. As a former quarterback, he thinks of the entire offensive process and how the pieces work together. He’s not a devastating blocker, but he’s a willing one — and he likely wouldn’t be asked to line up much at the “Y” tight-end spot next to the tackle, anyway.

“I don’t know that he’s going to be a butt-kicker in there (as a blocker), but he can improve in that area,” Jeremiah said. “I don’t know how much you’re really going to put his hand in the ground, though.”

 

View on Threads

 

STOWERS AS A “BIG SLOT RECEIVER”

But calling Stowers a “tight end” may just be a technicality of the roster, Jeremiah notes.

“I just think he’s comfortable as kind of that jumbo slot,” Jeremiah explains. “I always used to find it interesting that even some tight ends in the NFL that were flexed all the time, you just put a tight end next to their name.

“It used to be, way back when, defensive coordinators would match personnel because it said ‘TE’ in the program. But now it’s like they’re getting treated like, ‘This is just a receiver.’ I mean, they can put “TE’ next to them all they want, but he’s definitely a big slot receiver.”

That creates some intriguing possibilities with Stowers — especially in the wake of the Broncos’ addition of Jaylen Waddle. With Adam Trautman holding down most of the snaps at the “Y” tight-end spot, Engram could handle some of the work in space, giving Stowers a lengthy on-ramp.

ut Payton and Davis Webb could design some packages to capitalize off Stowers’ capabilities down the seam, where he could be a plus contributor immediately as he works to refine the rest of his game as he adjusts to the NFL.

“He’s explosive. He’s got unbelievable ball skills to go track it and go get it down the field. The highlights are exceptional,” Jeremiah said. “He can break tackles. After the catch, he’s got burst into and out of breaks.”

Jeremiah’s one critique is about Stowers amid a thicket of defenders: “He’s been a little bit inconsistent on some of the combat catches. Like when you see him in crowds, that’s something that he can continue to get better at.”

But the beauty of the Broncos’ situation is that he’d have the gift of time. With Engram under contract for this season, Stowers could be a change-of-pace option, a curveball to throw and force coverages into pick-your-poison conundrums.

And if he can truly be the “joker,” what could that mean for the offense?

Well, last year at the Combine, Paton said it all.

“I’ve played Sean’s teams that have had them,” Paton said in February 2025, “and they’re hell.”

If the Broncos believe Stowers could be that answer, he might be worth a trade up the board in Round 2. Because they’re not missing much on their roster — but they’re still searching for that unicorn.

And if this draft could yield that elusive “joker,” it would be a success no matter how the other picks fared.

Related

Bo Nix has recheck on his ankle, is ‘doing great’Broncos agree to terms with slew of undrafted rookiesBroncos make final three draft picks, including Mr. IrrelevantCan Justin Joly be the answer to the riddle of the ‘joker’ for the Broncos?Why Jonah Coleman could be the Broncos’ most important draft pick this seasonBroncos move up in the fifth round to grab a pass-catching tight end