SALT LAKE CITY – Former Utah tight end Caleb Lohner has turned some heads in the Mile High City at the Denver Broncos’ rookie mini-camp.
When asked about the former Ute and Cougar, head coach Sean Payton had some high praise for the hoops star turned tight end.
Broncos HC Sean Payton seems pretty high on 7th round TE Caleb Lohner 👀pic.twitter.com/45S99jDDBu
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) May 12, 2025
“When you watch him, people bring up Jimmy (Graham),” Payton said. “There were some similarities in that he only played a year, 80-something snaps, I think he had 18 catches. We’ve got to coach and develop. There are traits there that excite me.”
The similarities between Jimmy Graham and Lohner are kind of striking. Both played only basketball for their first three years of college, used as a large red zone threat in their senior seasons, and were eventually picked after the first day of the NFL Draft.
Now, Graham was more athletically gifted than Lohner is, but Payton smacked the nail on the head. With some development and coaching, he could turn into a real impact player at the next level.
Training camp begins in mid-July, Denver opens its preseason against the New Orleans Saints on August 23, and then the Broncos will play the Tennessee Titans in week one on September 7.
About Caleb Lohner
Lohner was born in Flower Mound, Texas, and attended Wasatch Academy, where he was a standout basketball player.
He began his college career at BYU, where he played forward and averaged approximately seven points and seven rebounds per game.
He transferred to Baylor for his junior campaign, where he played in all 35 games. After limited opportunity with the Bears, Lohner came back to Utah, this time with the Utes.
Wrapping up the #BroncosDraft …
Welcome to #BroncosCountry, @caleblohner! pic.twitter.com/VDK6vReE10
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) April 26, 2025
He played football and basketball for the University of Utah last year. In 12 games with Utah Football, he had four receptions for 54 yards and four touchdowns.
Standing at 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds, Lohner will be a red zone threat for any team at any level.
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Chandler Holt is a co-host of the Jazz Notes podcast, a Locals In The NFL Insider, and Digital Sports Producer for KSLSports.com. Follow Chandler on X for Utah Jazz and Locals In The NFL updates.
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