When the Denver Broncos inked Evan Engram to a two-year, $23 million deal last March - with $16.5 million guaranteed - the vision was clear: Sean Payton believed he had found his “joker.” Not the card from a deck, but the kind of offensive weapon who could line up anywhere, create mismatches, and unlock a whole new layer of creativity in Payton’s offense.
It’s a role Payton knows well. In New Orleans, he had a rotating cast of dynamic tight ends and hybrid players who could stretch the field, line up in the slot, or even motion into the backfield. That kind of versatility is gold in today’s NFL - and it’s something the Broncos had lacked in Payton’s first two seasons in Denver.
So when Engram, a two-time Pro Bowler with a track record of production in both New York and Jacksonville, hit the market, it made sense. He brought speed, route-running ability, and experience - all the traits of a classic “move” tight end who could tilt the field in the quarterback’s favor.
But the reality in Denver hasn’t matched the expectation.
In 2025, Engram suited up for all 16 games but managed just 50 catches on 76 targets for 461 yards and a single touchdown. That’s a far cry from the 114-catch, 963-yard campaign he posted with the Jaguars in 2023.
And it wasn’t just the raw numbers that dipped - it was his role in the offense. He simply wasn’t featured the way many expected.
Some of that comes down to fit. Engram has never been known as a dominant in-line blocker, and in Payton’s offense - which still leans on tight ends to contribute in the run game - that matters.
His blocking limitations may have restricted how often he could be on the field in certain personnel groupings. And while he’s always been a receiving-first tight end, drops have followed him throughout his career.
He had four with the Broncos this past season, continuing a trend that’s dogged him since his Giants days.
Size is another factor. At just under 240 pounds, Engram is slightly undersized for a traditional tight end role, which can make it harder for him to establish leverage against bigger defenders - both in blocking and in contested catch situations. That lack of physicality may be part of why he didn’t become the matchup nightmare Payton hoped for.
Now, with the offseason underway, Engram’s future in Denver is very much in question. He’s a clear trade or cut candidate.
If the Broncos move on before June 1, they’d save $3.8 million in cap space. Post-June 1, that number jumps to $6.4 million.
For a team looking to retool and build around young talent, that’s not insignificant.
Behind Engram on the depth chart are Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins - both solid, physical tight ends who do the dirty work in the trenches. But neither is the kind of dynamic pass-catcher who can stretch a defense. If Denver does move on from Engram, they’ll need to find someone who can fill that “joker” role Payton still clearly values.
One name to watch? Isaiah Likely.
The former Ravens tight end is expected to hit the open market, and he checks a lot of the boxes Denver is looking for. He’s younger than Engram, bigger, and brings a mix of blocking ability and receiving upside.
While his 2025 numbers - 27 catches for 301 yards and a touchdown - don’t leap off the page, he’s shown flashes of being a reliable target with solid run-after-catch skills. And importantly, he offers alignment versatility - the kind of trait that lets a playcaller like Payton get creative with formations and matchups.
If the Broncos want to revive the “joker” concept in their offense, Likely could be a compelling option. But for now, the focus is on Engram - and whether his time in Denver, after just one season, is already nearing its end.