​Recent rankings spotlight Evan Engram’s underwhelming first season with the Broncos in 2025, a story that originally appeared on The Sporting News. The Sporting News is listed here as a Preferred Source. The Denver Broncos appeared to land one of the biggest offseason signings in 2025 when they secured Evan Engram on a two-year free-agent deal. Yet describing his inaugural year in Denver as merely disappointing would be an understatement.
Engram totaled 50 receptions for 461 yards and one touchdown last season, but watching every game suggested his impact was far less than those numbers imply. Despite the modest stat line, the Broncos still project him as the No. 1 tight end on the depth chart entering 2026.
In a recent ESPN poll, a panel of NFL executives, coaches, and scouts were asked to rank the best players at each position. When it came to tight ends, Engram did not appear on their radar. The top 10 list favored younger talents such as Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, Tyler Warren, and Colston Loveland, with Travis Kelce also making the cut.
Following the top tier, honorable mentions were considered. Engram’s name was absent there as well; many assumed he would at least be among players who “also received votes.” But that wasn’t the case. Despite having just six fewer receptions than the previous season’s remarkable 114 for the Jaguars, Engram did not receive a single vote from any panelist.
The memory of Denver’s bid war with the Los Angeles Chargers to secure Engram remains fresh, and while signing him was a win, his 2025 performance has led some to view him as a diminishing asset. The Broncos will need him to shed that perception in 2026. New draftees Justin Joly and Dallen Bentley join the roster, yet Engram remains the clear TE1 for now. How long that will hold true remains to be seen; the Broncos must involve him more in the passing game early and often to unlock the offense this season.
HOT READ: Broncos may be early-season Super Bowl favorites according to new power rankings. Engram’s best season came in 2023, when his 114 receptions were the second-most in a season for a tight end at that time. He has shown the capability to resemble that level of impact, but last year’s numbers suggest a gap between potential and production. The Broncos must determine whether Engram can reestablish himself as a dominant in-structure option in this offense, or if the fit simply isn’t there. It may be late in his career for him to be among the top 10 tight ends, and if he doesn’t secure votes in rankings like this, he could be entering the final year of his contract with Denver.
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