The Broncos may be walking into training camp with one of their biggest offseason worries already looking a little less urgent.
For a while now, tight end has been one of the roster spots people pointed to when sizing up Denver’s weaknesses. The fix seemed simple enough when the team brought in Evan Engram, a free agent who has been one of the league’s more productive pass-catching tight ends since entering the NFL in 2017. But his first season in Denver did not go the way anyone expected.
Engram’s 2025 campaign was, by the numbers, the worst of his career since 2021 with the New York Giants. And because he arrived with big-money expectations attached, the disappointment landed hard.
That’s why the early signs from OTAs and minicamp matter. Engram reportedly was heavily involved in the passing game and made plays when the ball came his way, giving the Broncos a reason to feel better heading into camp. Sean Payton doesn’t open the door wide on the details, but the buzz coming out of the offseason work has been enough to create some real optimism after last year’s letdown.
The production itself wasn’t empty. Engram finished the 2025 season with 50 receptions for 461 yards while playing just 42 percent of the offensive snaps.
Even with the uneven usage, he still delivered when Denver needed him most. He had key performances in wins over the Eagles, Giants, and Commanders, all one-score victories that helped the Broncos secure the #1 seed in the AFC.
Still, the bigger issue was how often he was used and how unpredictable that role felt. Engram said after the season that he didn’t know week to week what to expect in terms of involvement, and for a player with his skill set, that kind of uncertainty is hard to justify.
Now there’s at least a chance that changes. With Davis Webb calling plays for the offense, there’s reason to think Engram’s role could grow. The Broncos were also bottom-10 in the NFL in usage of multiple tight end sets, which points to a possible philosophical shift as much as a personnel one.
That could be the key here. Engram does not necessarily need 120 targets to matter.
He could be more dangerous with fewer chances if those touches come with more room after the catch or if Denver uses him more as a vertical threat. However it takes shape, the early signs suggest the Broncos are already building him into the 2026 plan before camp even begins.
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