Broncos Could Cut Veteran TE Evan Engram, Replace Him With This Free Agent

When the Denver Broncos signed tight end Evan Engram to a two-year, $23 million deal with $16.5 million in guarantees back in March 2025, Head Coach Sean Payton had envisioned the veteran would be a gamechanger for his team.

Payton believed Engram would be his “joker,” which essentially means a player that can be a versatile receiving threat that often creates mismatches and favorable matchups for the quarterback.

Payton had the luxury of having multiple “jokers” on his roster with the New Orleans Saints and sought to find one in Denver as the team lacked one in his first two seasons with the Broncos.

Engram was dominant for the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars earlier in his career, earning two Pro Bowl selections but since becoming a Bronco, he hasn’t nearly been as effective.

In his lone season with Denver, Engram caught 50 passes on 76 targets for 461 yards and one touchdown in 16 games. Engram wasn’t heavily involved in the offense and his production dipped tremendously.

Engram’s last full season was with the Jaguars in 2023, and he was dominant as the team’s main option. He caught 114 passes on 143 targets for 963 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games.

Obviously, there are two different systems at play here. But why was Engram not heavily involved when the team lacked offensive playmakers? He isn’t the best blocker, which limits his role with the offense, and he has been prone to drops in his career (four with Denver).

Engram is also considered slightly undersized for his position, which also limits his chances to be that impactful “joker” that Payton desperately wants. Engram is a trade/cut candidate this offseason.

If the team can’t work out a trade, Denver can save $3.8 million in salary cap space if he is cut before June 1 and up to $6.4 million after June 1.

The Broncos have two skilled tight ends behind Engram, Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins, but they are more known for blocking and less known for their receiving prowess. A replacement would be needed and ex-Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely is expected to hit the open market.

“Likely's alignment versatility gives offensive playcallers more flexibility, and he has the catch-and-run traits to produce on high-percentage throws,” ESPN’s Matt Bowen wrote Wednesday. “He should be viewed as a "move" tight end who can get favorable matchups in the passing game. He had 27 catches for 301 yards and a touchdown this season, which was down from his six scores in 2024.”

Although last season wasn’t Likely’s best, he has proven that he can be a reliable playmaker and great blocker. Likely is much younger than Engram and is a bit bigger in size, giving the four-year pro a better catch radius.

Likely would be a better fit in Payton’s system and should be targeted by General Manager George Paton if the team decides to move on from Engram.