Dallen Bentley took a surprising road to get drafted by the Broncos.

Denver selected him in the seventh round Saturday with pick No. 256 (one slot before Mr. Irrelevant) after a breakout year at tight end for Utah. Bentley logged 48 catches for 620 yards and six touchdowns in his senior season. Yet reaching the NFL was never a foregone conclusion.

Bentley walked on at Snow Junior College in 2022 after hardly playing high school football. He still broke out as a second-team JUCO All-American. Bentley transferred to Utah but caught just three passes for 20 yards over two seasons. His role shifted as a senior, though, from blocking to pass catching — with impressive results.

He’s now getting a shot in the NFL.

Bentley reflected on his unconventional path to the Broncos during a Saturday media call.

“Coming in every day ready to work as hard as I can, finding those little things of improvement and doing that consistently,” Bentley said.

The Broncos invested two picks at tight end in this draft class with Justin Joly (N.C. State) in the fifth round and Bentley in the seventh. It signals an organizational push to give quarterback Bo Nix more weapons at the position. Bentley’s skill set and frame at 6-foot-4 and 253 pounds suggests he’s better suited as an inline tight end with blocking responsibilities.

But he’s unafraid to make plays with the football in his hands, too.

“I think I’m a really great hybrid tight end who’s able to go out there and make some big plays in the passing game and stick my hand in the dirt and make some big plays there,” Bentley said. “I have great hands, so I don’t drop balls. You can trust me in some situations. I’m always looking for things to improve on. Specifically, right now … getting a lot of improvement on my hand strength in the blocking game.”

Bentley also continues a strong Utah to Denver pipeline with four ex-Utes already on the roster: OT Garett Bolles, LB Jonah Elliss, TE Caleb Lohner and LB Karene Reid. Bolles also played at Snow Junior College before transferring to Utah.

“I think Utah just plays with a certain style and has a certain grit to them that kind of draws attention from NFL teams, and specifically the Broncos,” Bentley said. “I have no idea (why), to be honest, but we have a couple of guys there in the last few years, so it will be cool to see some of them.”

The Broncos suddenly have a crowded tight end room. Evan Engram led the unit a year ago in receptions (50) and yards (461) — but he played on just 42% of all offensive snaps. Adam Trautman was featured more often (57%) with more blocking responsibilities. They combined for just two touchdown catches.

“With Bentley, there’s a more inline wide, bigger (tight end),” coach Sean Payton said during a Saturday news conference. “He does a great job down the field.”

Bentley will have an opportunity to prove he belongs. He understands the odds are against him as a seventh-round pick. What’s new? His underdog story continues in Denver.

“I’m just grateful to be out there and grateful to be part of Broncos Country,” Bentley said. “I’m just excited. It doesn’t matter when or where you get drafted. … You just have to make the most of every opportunity.”