Broncos coach Sean Payton excited to add mismatch tight end to offense

The Denver Broncos had to wait, but they eventually got their man when veteran tight end Evan Engram agreed to a two-year deal with the club this spring.

After visiting the Broncos in March, Engram took a second free agent visit with the Los Angeles Chargers, then he returned home to make a decision with his wife. The 30-year-old ultimately decided to pick Denver over L.A.

Advertisement

“It took a little bit, in other words, the process relative to his visit and other visits," Broncos coach Sean Payton said in March. "The vision was pretty clear. Obviously, he’s someone that we feel like can run and give us a passing threat on third down and [in the] red zone. I think he has good body control, and If think he is really good when he gets the ball into his hands. His run after the catch numbers, statistical-wise, have been good.

"I would say with him, it was a lengthier process, kind of like the old days of free agency where a player would fly in then fly maybe to another team and usually wouldn’t make it to the third team. It worked out well.”

Long before Engram was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Payton had made it known publicly that he was seeking a "Joker" for his offense in 2025. Engram (6-3, 240 pounds) certainly seems to fit that description (and he has embraced it).

“I would put him in that category or that family," Payton said of Engram. "He is someone who has those skillsets. One of the things that helped us in the process of him making that decision was that role. You can talk about it, but historically speaking [and] having had players like him, I’m excited."

Advertisement

The coach later added, "I do think we have a ‘Joker,’ we have a mismatch tight end that we really like."

A two-time Pro Bowler, Engram hauled in 47 receptions for 365 yards and one touchdown in nine games last fall (he missed about half the season due to injury). One year earlier, Engram totaled a whopping 114 receptions for 963 yards and four scores in 2023. If he can return to that kind of production in Denver, Engram could end up being one of the NFL's top free agent signings of 2025.