Evan Engram Joins the Broncos
Evan Engram is now a Denver Bronco. After two seasons in Jacksonville, Engram signed a two-year, $23 million contract with Denver in the 2025 offseason. The deal includes $16.5 million in guaranteed money, a clear indication that the Broncos view him as a key piece in their offense. Engram is not a depth signing. He’s expected to play a key role in Sean Payton’s system and could become one of the more valuable tight ends in fantasy football this year.
Stats
| Season | Team | GP | REC | TGTS | YDS | AVG | TD |
| 2017 | NYG | 15 | 64 | 115 | 722 | 11.3 | 6 |
| 2018 | NYG | 11 | 45 | 64 | 577 | 12.8 | 3 |
| 2019 | NYG | 8 | 44 | 68 | 467 | 10.6 | 3 |
| 2020 | NYG | 16 | 63 | 109 | 654 | 10.4 | 1 |
| 2021 | NYG | 15 | 46 | 73 | 408 | 8.9 | 3 |
| 2022 | JAX | 17 | 73 | 98 | 766 | 10.5 | 4 |
| 2023 | JAX | 17 | 114 | 143 | 963 | 8.4 | 4 |
| 2024 | JAX | 9 | 47 | 64 | 365 | 7.8 | 1 |
| Career | 108 | 496 | 734 | 4,922 | 9.9 | 25 |
Engram came into the league in 2017 as a first-round pick by the New York Giants. His rookie season was electric, finishing with over 700 receiving yards and six touchdowns despite being in a dysfunctional offense. Injuries and inconsistency slowed him down over the next few years, but he remained a productive receiving threat when healthy. In 2022, he signed with the Jaguars and found new life in Doug Pederson’s offense. That year he posted career highs in receptions and yards. He followed that up with a strong start in 2024 before injuries cut his season short after nine games. Even in a limited season, he remained a steady presence for Trevor Lawrence and finished with 47 catches.
Does Engram Fit the Offense?
Denver saw enough to invest. The contract structure makes it clear the team is betting on Engram to deliver immediate impact in 2025. With Russell Wilson off the roster and the Broncos shifting to a new era behind rookie quarterback Bo Nix, Payton wanted a veteran safety valve over the middle. Engram fits that bill. He’s fast enough to split wide and athletic enough to create mismatches against linebackers and safeties. When healthy, he’s one of the best move tight ends in the league.
Now let’s talk scheme. Sean Payton is known for adapting his offense to match the strengths of his players. While Payton’s past teams in New Orleans leaned heavily on the short passing game and spread formations, he’s no stranger to featuring the tight end. Jimmy Graham had some of his best years under Payton. That said, Payton’s offense in Denver has looked different. Last year, the Broncos ranked near the bottom of the league in using two-tight-end sets. They used 12 personnel on only thirteen percent of snaps. That may change in 2025.
Bo Nix performed extremely well in college when operating out of formations with two tight ends. According to reports, Nix posted a passer rating of nearly 120 in such sets. That’s encouraging for Engram, especially if Payton tailors the playbook to boost his rookie quarterback’s efficiency. Engram’s presence also gives the Broncos more flexibility. He can line up in the slot, play as an in-line tight end, or even motion into the backfield. His versatility should create matchup problems and force defenses to adjust. That’s exactly what Payton loves to exploit.
Fantasy Impact
From a fantasy football perspective, Engram is in a strange but intriguing spot. He’s walking into a new team with a young quarterback and an offensive coach who doesn’t have a consistent track record of feeding tight ends heavy volume. But Engram also has less competition for targets than he did in Jacksonville. WR Jerry Jeudy is now in Cleveland. Courtland Sutton is still in town but remains somewhat inconsistent. Marvin Mims and Troy Franklin are young receivers who may need time to develop.
Engram could easily be second in the team’s target share or even lead the Broncos in receptions.
In Jacksonville, Engram averaged over ten FF points per game in PPR formats during both full seasons with the team. He was especially valuable in tight-end premium formats. If he sees similar volume in Denver, his upside remains high. The biggest question is whether Denver’s passing offense can generate enough production to keep Engram relevant week to week. Rookie quarterbacks can be hit or miss. If Bo Nix struggles, it could drag Engram’s ceiling down.
That said, fantasy value is always about cost. As of now, Engram is being drafted outside the top eight tight ends in most early best ball and redraft leagues. That’s a range where you’re betting on upside and trying to find the breakout guy who finishes in the top five. Engram fits that mold. He has a history of production. He has a coach who knows how to scheme players open. And he has a quarterback who likely needs an experienced target in the middle of the field.
There’s also a volume play here. If Denver finds itself trailing in games, Engram could rack up garbage-time catches that boost his weekly floor. He won’t block much. He’s going to run routes. And that’s exactly what fantasy managers want in a tight end. Engram may not have the ceiling of Travis Kelce or Mark Andrews, but his path to top ten production is realistic. If Payton leans into the short passing game to help Bo Nix settle in, Engram might end up being one of the most reliable targets in the offense.
Engram is a proven pass catcher with a fresh start on a team that desperately needs reliable weapons. If he stays healthy and sees consistent targets, he has every chance to be a fantasy starter in all formats. You may not have to pay a premium to get him on draft day, but there’s a real chance you’ll be starting him every week by midseason. Keep an eye on his role during camp and preseason. If the connection with Bo Nix clicks early, Engram could end up being one of the best values at the tight end position in 2025.
