Evan Engram is no joke…but he might be The Joker
Evan Engram enters his ninth NFL season searching for renewed purpose. The Jacksonville Jaguars released the veteran tight end in March to free up nearly $6 million in cap space. The Denver Broncos moved quickly, signing him to a two-year, $23 million deal with $16.5 million fully guaranteed.
At first glance, Engram no longer looks like a compelling fantasy option:
- He turns 31 in September
- He missed half of the 2024 season
- He's joining his third team
- He failed to finish as a top-12 fantasy tight end last year
However, discounting the savvy veteran could be a major mistake. Engram has done enough throughout his career to warrant optimism, especially in Denver, where he may be stepping into Sean Payton's coveted "Joker" role.
The Joke(r) is On You
Sean Payton made it clear early this offseason that he was searching for a "Joker." It's his preferred term for a hybrid offensive weapon who creates mismatches across formations, typically a tight end or running back with dynamic skills.
At the NFL Scouting Combine in February, Payton elaborated on his desire to find such a player and emphasized how vital that kind of versatility is to unlocking his offense's potential:
After signing Engram, Payton confirmed that he believes he found his man:
Regardless of how you feel about the "Joker" moniker, what matters is that Payton is one of the league's most respected offensive minds and believed this type of player was essential to elevate Denver's attack.