The Broncos still need more from their tight end group, and Evan Engram is the name drawing the most attention in camp. That buzz has grown as Denver heads toward a new season, but there’s a good reason to slow down before handing Engram a breakout label.
His first year with the Broncos did not exactly change the conversation. Engram caught 50 passes for 461 yards in 2025, a line that sits close to the range he has usually lived in across his NFL career.
Over his previous eight seasons, he had four years above 600 yards and four below it, and his career average through that span is 615 yards. Last season came in short of that mark, but not by much.
The reception total looked familiar too. Engram’s 50 catches matched the middle of his career production, with four seasons finishing above that number and four finishing below it. He missed only one game in 2025, and while he did not fully meet expectations, he also was not wildly outside the statistical lane he has occupied for most of his career.
He still finished third on the Broncos in receiving last year. Even so, the season left room for more.
What makes the camp optimism hard to swallow is the way Engram has tended to look before the games actually count. He has a habit of flashing in practice and then not carrying that same energy into the regular season. That pattern has followed him through most of his career, which is why the current excitement deserves a skeptical eye.
There’s also the matter of how the summer unfolded. Most of the praise around Engram came during unpadded work, and once the pads came on, the noise around him faded. He has made a play or two in padded practices, but not with the same burst he showed early in camp.
That matters because Engram is more of a finesse receiver than a physical one. When defenders can get hands-on with him, it has often created problems, and that has been part of the story for a long time.
There are reasons this season could still look different. New offensive coordinator Davis Webb may have a clear plan for how to use Engram, and the preseason opener Friday night against the Atlanta Falcons should offer the first hint of that approach.
Last season, Engram also appeared to fall into Sean Payton’s doghouse at times, which affected how he was used and produced a few tense sideline moments.
Bo Nix is another piece of the puzzle. He has shown a new level of confidence and chemistry when throwing to Engram, even if every quarterback has leaned on the veteran tight end at some point.
On a second look at last season, it seemed Payton and Nix did not fully trust Engram, and if that changes, his role could expand. That would matter even more if Webb has figured out how to unlock him.
Still, the burden of proof remains on Engram. The hype is there, but until it shows up when the games begin, skepticism is the safer play.
I’d like to be wrong. We’ll find out soon enough.
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