Justin Joly is in the league.
The former Iona Prep standout from Brewster was taken Saturday in the fifth round of the NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, who traded up for the 152nd overall pick, sending fifth-round (170) and sixth-round (182) picks to the Cleveland Browns.
Denver is among the six teams Joly met with ahead of the draft. He was the 11th tight end selected this year.
“I’m just here to do whatever they need me to do,” Joly said during his post-pick media call, noting he was surrounded by 20 family members at his Raleigh, North Carolina home. “Any time my name is called, I’m blessed to do that, without a doubt.”
Justin Joly Bio
Birth date: July 9, 2004
Height: 6-foot-3 1/2
Weight: 241 pounds
Position: Tight end
Game: Joly is a hybrid tight end, primarily a pass-catching threat whose agility, fight and hands make him a reliable target. He dropped 20 pounds after the 2025 season, a decision that produced positive reviews at the combine. Run blocking is the area that will have to be developed. Joly could also figure into Denver’s special teams game plan.
College: Joly was headed to Delaware before a coaching change created at opportunity at UConn. He appeared in 12 games in 2022, making 18 catches for 250 yards and two touchdowns. He led the Huskies with 56 receptions the following year, totaling 578 yards and two touchdowns. Joly moved on to North Carolina State where he caught 43 passes for 661 yards and four TDs in 2024. He was a first-team All-ACC selection last fall, making 49 catches for 489 yards and seven TDs.
High school: Joly played wide receiver and tight end at Iona Prep, where a sophomore-year growth spurt made him an even bigger threat. He caught 123 passes for 1,827 yards and 19 touchdowns over three varsity seasons. Joly was a 2021 lohud Elite 11 pick and Journal News first-team All-Star.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Broncos draft former Iona Prep standout Justin Joly in 5th round
Reporting by Mike Dougherty, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
