Evan Engram happy playing for Payton, takes shot at Jaguars

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Evan Engram might be in his ninth year in the NFL, but coming to Broncos Country has him feeling like a brand new man.

Engram will have a big job to do, and a $23 million contract that backs it. He figures to be a “joker” tight end — or at least that’s the dream head coach Sean Payton has for his scheme. Having played in 108 NFL games since going in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Ole Miss, the 6-foot-3 target hauled in the most catches (114) among tight ends in 2023; four went for touchdowns, and he gained 963 yards.

Though the follow-up wasn’t as fun, he was hampered in 2024, limited to nine games due to a hamstring injury and, later, a season-ending torn labrum. Still, he nearly outproduced all the Broncos who played the position. Denver hasn’t had a great tight end in quite a while, and everyone hopes that’s just what Engram will be.

“It’s been awesome. Really. I feel really at home in this offense,” Engram said after the Broncos’ first training camp practice in front of fans on Friday. “I feel like my strengths are being used at the highest level. And it’s also challenging me to be sharp with my tools and be sharp with my details, the little things that I need to clean up and get better at. It’s challenged me every single day, just the different ways that they’re planning to use me, and also just the mentality that they have… I’m just really excited to be in (Patyon’s) scheme and excited to work with him throughout the season to help his team the best way I can.”

Complete the sentence:
Evan Engram will have ___ touchdowns this season pic.twitter.com/ghnoqdBaIp

— Romi Bean (@Romi_Bean) July 25, 2025

Engram had some nice moments in Friday’s practice. The veteran opted to wear his full pads, whereas his teammates were just in shells. Engram says this is just about the details and getting his body right for the season. No matter how, he’s really focused on being ready across the board.

“My favorite thing about being a Bronco right now, just the way that this team connects, the way they push each other, the way they challenge each other, the way that we bond, just the standard that we have for ourselves,” Engram explained before sharing a detail. “I tell people, all my family, it’s hard to be the first one in the building. I’m used to being the first one in (the building) in Jacksonville. I was always the first one. It was really easy. Here, it’s kind of tough.”

Payton led the Broncos back to the playoffs last year, and the team hopes to build off that step. For Engram, he’s only played in two postseason games, both with the Jaguars in 2022, who got worse in the tight end’s three seasons in Florida. The Broncos offer him maybe the best chance he’s had in his career at team success, all the while Payton offers the most creative offensive mind that he’s worked for.

“I think the fans and you guys are having a lot more fun with it,” Engram laughed about being named a joker. “The whatever you guys want to perceive it as, you guys have that for sure. I just see that as being reliable, you know, being clutch, making plays, just doing my job at the highest level, whatever that’s asked of me to do in the run game and pass game, in the locker room, in the weight room, just doing my job at the highest level. I think with doing that and the work, the results will come, and then the fun. We can have more fun with it as we go.”

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