The Broncos have signed Evan Engram to a two-year, $23 million contract with $16.5 million guaranteed, and Sean Payton finally has his Joker:
During an interview with Kay Adams of the “Up and Adams Show” at the Super Bowl earlier this month, Payton discussed a key need in 2025.
Adams started the conversation by suggesting Denver needed a veteran wide receiver. Payton countered, “I would say we need a Joker.”
Adams then mentioned Reggie Bush, and Payton quickly clarified that a Joker could be a tight end or a running back that has exceptional receiving skills.
“We were spoiled here [in New Orleans],” Payton said. “When you think about it, all right? You had Reggie, you had Jimmy Graham, Jeremy Shockey, Darren Sproles, Alvin Kamara. Those are the interior — either tight ends or running backs — they have to be elite receivers.”
Denver hasn’t had a productive receiving tight end since trading Noah Fant to Seattle in 2022. Adam Trautman led their TE group with 188 yards last season. Engram, at 30 years old, is coming off an injury-plagued 2024, but is just one year removed from a 114-catch, 963-yard campaign in 2023.
He adds another veteran presence to a roster replete with promising talent but short on consistency. He also adds his name to a long list of talented former “Jokers” in a Payton offense that includes some potential Hall-of-Famers. But is Engram still the elite interior receiver that Payton is looking for?
