After having covered two of the biggest need positions for the Denver Broncos going into this 2017 NFL Draft with our offensive tackle and running back previews, it’s time to look at one of the better positions in the 2017 class, the tight ends. Yes, while offensive tackle isn’t deep and lacking in elite prospects, the tight end position—much like the running backs—is loaded this draft cycle.

Draftniks have been looking forward to this class for over a season as it was clear 2017 would be a great year to select tight ends once O.J. Howard, Evan Engram, and Jake Butt all decided to remain in school. On top of those big three names, others have emerged this season and the combine workouts have brought to light more gems. Simply put, this is a terrific group that would put to shame many of the classes showcased in the past few drafts.

Here are the players you should be familiar with as the draft quickly approaches.

Big time weapons in the first round

O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama

Howard is one of the most complete players in the entire draft class as he checks off just about every box for a tight end prospect. He’s played his best on the big stage in the past two national championships and is a monstrous blocker, he’s one of the few in this group who’s an NFL-ready blocker, a truly rare trait.

He’s also shown absurd athleticism for his size, at 6-foot-6 and 251-pounds. The big man from Bama ran a 4.51 40-yard dash and a three-cone that was under seven seconds. Those are slot receiver type numbers, folks, simply mind boggling.

The chances of him slipping to pick No. 20 have become slimmer after he abused his competition at the Senior Bowl and tested like a martian at the combine. However, if he does drop it’s because while he shows lots of promise as a receiver there’s some projection as he wasn’t the most productive at Alabama. The talent is there to be a Gronk type phenom at the position but his tape isn’t nearly as dominant in the red zone or running after the catch.

A rare immediate contributor with some big growth potential on top of that. A stellar pick if the Broncos have the chance to select him.

Evan Engram, TE/WR, Ole Miss

Engram isn’t the complete prospect Howard is as he’s an undersized tight end at only 234 pounds. That means the Broncos would have to get creative, using him as an h-back so that he can have a head of steam in the blocking game and flexing him out as a big slot in the passing game. Instead of being a pure tight end, Engram is more of a hybrid receiver. Regardless of position, Engram is a matchup nightmare that could really open up options for the Broncos offense.

He’s a capable route runner who already understands how to get open underneath providing a high-level safety blanket for the young quarterbacks on the roster. He’s also a threat to win deep, especially down the seam, and is a blossoming contested ball catcher.

Aside from his size, his red zone production could be better but he certainly has the skill set to factor in there as well. Most mocks have him going in the second round but don’t be surprised if he’s selected in the 20s.

David Njoku, TE, Miami

Njoku has risen this season to become the other big name in the first round at the position. He hasn’t been the producer that the two above him are but his upside is so tantalizing that he might just end up being the best of the bunch in a few seasons.

What Njoku lacks in consistent hands, refined route running and raw blocking skills, he makes up for with freakish abilities in the red zone and after the catch.

He’d require some major grooming, but he is already capable of making a couple plays a game that just leave you with your mouth open asking, “How did he do that?”.

For a team like the Broncos, gambling on Njoku’s upside might be a bit of a luxury, but the appeal to this pick lies in adding a dynamic game-changing weapon in the passing game.

Big Targets (quite literally) for day two

Bucky Hodges, TE, Virginia Tech

It’s beginning to sound redundant but Hodges is another freakish athlete with silly size. He’s also not a true tight end and was mostly utilized as a big slot receiver with the Hokies where he was a big factor in the receiving game.

The profile to be a top-tier talent closer to the top three is there but he’s even rawer as a blocker and hasn’t always dominated like his talent should in the ACC. At pick 51 he certainly would be an interesting selection and a tantalizing added weapon.

Gerald Everett, TE, South Alabama

Everett is a smaller tight end with great movement skills that have garnered comparisons to the Washington Redskins star Jordan Reed. Like Reed, he’s not much of a factor as a blocker, but he moves differently from other tight ends.

He’s quicker in his ability to slip away from defenders and find openings in coverage with some standout skills as a runner with the ball in his hands.

He’s a pure H-back but if used the right way he could be one of the best we’ve seen in the league for a long time—think Charles Clay or Aaron Hernandez pre-murder trial.

Jonnu Smith, TE, Florida International

At 6-foot-3 and 248 pounds, Smith is somewhat undersized, particularly in the height department, but his athleticism can’t be debated. Smith has been a factor in the passing game throughout his collegiate career. His speed to get open and with the ball in his hands makes him a danger with room to grow as a catcher.

The blocking game isn’t his strength, but he’s willing to mix it up and could be turned into a serviceable option there also. This would be another very intriguing upside pick.

Jordan Leggett, TE, Clemson

Leggett’s a big name player who has had some moments in the national spotlight that might make you think he’d go even higher than this.

However, he hasn’t always been consistently dominant. Leggett is big at 6-foot-5 and 258 pounds with some very appealing skills as a receiver. He’s also a willing blocker though he struggles some in that area.

When he’s on, he’s a handful on contested catches and running after the catch where he uses that size to bulldoze defenders. But he’s not as fast as others in this list nor as able in getting open and he’s not the blocking factor that other big guys on this list are. Regardless he’d be a fine pick in day two of the draft.

Adam Shaheen, TE, Ashland

Shaheen is the rare Division-II prospect that declared for early entry to the draft as he’s simply been that dominant. After trying collegiate basketball out of high school, Shaheen missed the physicality of football and arrived in Ashland to dominate. In the red zone, he’s proven unstoppable at that level racking up 16 touchdowns on 57 grabs and 867 yards. This is due to his size (6-foot-6 and 278 pounds) and nimble moving skills for a big guy. He’ll be tested much more severely in the league but has the talent to succeed.

He’s also an at times dominant blocker though he’s still developing. Shaheen is a pure upside play, but he could be a steal in late round three if he builds on his potential.

Day three sleepers

Jake Butt, TE, Michigan

As mentioned above, Butt came into the season just as highly regarded as Howard and Engram. But an ACL tear in his final bowl game has severely hindered his stock.

At full strength Butt is very complete, playing like a true pro at the position. He’s also got some nice route running skills, hands, and ability to get open in the short to intermediate.

His recovery from surgery seems to be going well and though he might not have some of the elite upside that others possess he does have the skill set of an NFL starter already.

Gambling on another injured Big Ten tight end might not be what the fans want, but the Broncos would be smart to grab Butt if he was still around on day three.

Cole Hikutini, TE, Louisville

Hikutini has really slipped through the cracks as draft season’s taken off as many have superseded him. The talent as a move tight end who could play as an H-back all there though and if the league sleeps on him like media types are some team will get very lucky.

The Louisville target was one of Heisman winners Lamar Jackson’s favorites and would prove to be a very nice safety blanket for Denver’s quarterbacks. Very skilled getting open underneath with some intriguing upside in other areas. His hands and ability to get open would be of immediate assistance to Denver.

Jeremy Sprinkle, TE, Arkansas

Sprinkle’s stock has fallen off a bit during the 2016 season where he was expected to do much more once Hunter Henry left for the NFL and he became the guy. But don’t be fooled, there’s still tons to like about him starting with his elite length at 6-foot-5 with incredibly long arms and huge hands.

He’s also a fantastic blocker who moves pretty well and has shown some potential as a red zone threat. He’s not as explosive or competent in getting open as others in the class but he’s a classic in-line type that would give Denver an every down solution at the position.

Michael Roberts, TE, Toledo

Roberts showed nicely in the Senior Bowl and is coming off a great year where he was dominant in the MAC to the tune of 16 touchdowns in 2016. At 270 pounds he’s a solid player with some intriguing skill as a blocker where he can be a smooth operator.

Roberts also appears to be a solid receiver with good hands. He might not have the upside as a receiving target that others on the list have, but he’s more NFL ready than most and fairly well rounded.

Pharaoh Brown, TE, Oregon

Brown has been an intriguing prospect since 2014 when his season was abruptly ended with an awful leg injury that seemed potentially career ending as amputation was tossed around as an option at points. After a long and arduous recovery, he’s come back this past season and showed well. He still has lots of upside and great size at 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds, making him a handful for opposing defenders.

As a raw prospect, there are some issues with him as a blocker and with his hands. He also has the injury questions and some off-field red flags that require vetting. But for a player who could slip to the lower rounds of day three he has some intriguing talent particularly if he can return to that 2014 form.

George Kittle, TE, Iowa

Kittle, as you’d expect from Hawkeye, is a willing and at times ferocious blocker. The upside of others on this list isn’t apparent on film on the receiving side of things, but he lit up the combine’s athletic testing suggesting there might be more room to grow.

Kittle’s ability to help in two TE sets would be immediate, and there seems to be some untapped upside with him as well.

Eric Saubert, TE, Drake

The small-school player is a fine receiver and was very effective put in motion. Saubert is big and understands how to get open. He also uses his big frame well in the air making mid-air adjustments on throws and contested grabs. Still raw and would require some polish as a blocker, but he could be just what the doctor ordered for teams searching for a receiving tight end.

In the late rounds, he’d be a worthwhile pick.

Summing it up

While Denver already has three players at the position that they’ve invested in, it’ll be hard to pass up drafting a player in this class. As there are endless intriguing talents, who have the upside to be immediate contributors for a team like the Broncos.

The options at the top are certainly very intriguing, but with this depth, the Broncos would have the luxury to wait and pick up one or even two promising players from the class.

With the variety of choice, the Broncos could also choose to pair a move tight end with Virgil Green who’s a more established blocker or look to find a bigger guy who could replace Green, while complementing A.J. Derby and allowing the offense to be harder to defend aginst with a truly well-rounded tight end.

Regardless, there are options for Denver to add receiving talent over the middle of the field to take attention away from Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders while providing a safe dump-off to the young signal-callers.