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By Dianna Russini, Jeff Howe and Nick Kosmider
The Denver Broncos and free-agent tight end Evan Engram agreed to terms on a two-year, $23 million deal, a league source confirmed. Engram will receive $16.5 million in guaranteed money, according to a league source.
The move gives second-year quarterback Bo Nix the tight end target he lacked during his rookie season. Denver has stressed all offseason the need to add a mismatch-creating presence at running back, tight end or both, and Engram fits that bill. Since entering the league as a first-round pick of the New York Giants in 2017, Engram ranks fourth among tight ends in receptions (496) and fifth in receiving yards (4,922). He was the No. 48 ranked player and second-highest tight end on The Athletic’s list of the top 150 free agents.
Engram is coming off a season in which he missed eight games with hamstring and labrum injuries, the latter requiring surgery in December. He had 47 receptions in 2024 and is a season removed from a career-high 114 catches in 2023 — his second of two Pro Bowl years. But Engram, who was released last week after three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars as the team retools under new general manager James Gladstone, is expected to be fully healthy heading into next season.
Denver offensive passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Davis Webb has a history with Engram as the two were teammates with the New York Giants in 2017 — one of five seasons Engram spent in New York. The Broncos have been active in free agency — agreeing to terms with linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga and retaining free agents defensive lineman D.J. Jones and backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham — as the team looks to build off of its playoff season in 2024.
How he fits
Engram immediately becomes TE1 in Denver, giving the Broncos a receiving threat at the position they have not had since trading Noah Fant to the Seattle Seahawks as part of the deal for quarterback Russell Wilson in 2022.
Since 2023, the Broncos rank 32nd in the NFL in receptions (90) and receiving yards (845) on passes targeting tight ends. Engram was limited to nine games last season due to injuries — he had shoulder surgery in December — but his 47 receptions for 365 yards would have still led the Broncos at the position by a wide margin. In 2023, Engram caught a career-high 114 passes (19 more than any other tight end that season) for 963 yards.
The Broncos have three other tight ends under contract — Adam Trautman, Lucas Krull and Nate Adkins — and had bright moments in Denver’s offense last season, even if their overall receiving production was limited. But Engram brings an entirely different skill set, and it’s one that will immediately be featured in the Broncos’ offense.
2025 impact
Broncos coach Sean Payton has said all offseason that he needs targets who can make Denver’s more efficient in the middle of the field. One look at Engram’s receiving heat map makes it clear that he can elevate the Broncos in that area. While he can be lined up all over the field, his most common alignments are in the near slot, just off of either tackle. He excels at making sharp cuts to shed linebackers and create plays after the catch.
Engram is not a mauler as a blocker, but he’s stout enough at 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds to hold his own while chipping pass rushers before releasing into the flats. Engram will be used in many two-tight end looks, but the bottom line is he’ll be on the field a lot. He has played roughly 76 percent of offensive snaps during his career. No tight end for the Broncos, meanwhile, played more than 52 percent of snaps last season.
Engram was waived last week with a failed physical designation, which is part of why Denver brought the tight end to their facility Monday for an in-person visit. The Broncos wanted to make sure his surgically repaired shoulder is ready to go.
The Broncos obviously felt comfortable enough to offer Engram a multiyear contract. The 30-year-old (who turns 31 in September) will need to show he can stay healthy after a disappointing 2024, but if he can there’s no reason to believe he can’t be a prominent figure in Denver’s offense this season.
Cap update
The Broncos began free agency with roughly $40.5 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap. They have since signed or reached agreement on deals, among others, with Engram, Jones (three years, $39 million), Hufanga (three years, $45 million), Greenlaw (three years, $35 million) Stidham (two years, $12 million) and wide receiver Trent Sherfield (two years, $6 million).
We’re still waiting to see the full structure of most of those deals, but the Broncos are likely done with any significant moves in free agency as their attention turns toward the draft, where running back leads the list of priorities.
Outlook
The aggressiveness in targeting Engram illustrates Denver’s stated belief that it can contend for the AFC West title next season. The Broncos could still very much be in the market for a tight end during next month’s NFL Draft. However, by signing one of the most productive players at the position to begin free agency, Denver can already get to work scheming up an offense that finally has a bonafide tight end target. The Broncos believe Nix is ready to take a leap in Year 2, and giving him a tight end whose 17-game averages since 2022 are 93 catches, 828 yards and four touchdowns will go a long way toward making that happen.
Required reading
(Photo: Andy Lyons / Getty Images)
