The Jacksonville Jaguars signed Evan Engram in 2022. From the get-go, he became a mainstay of the offense. However, a new regime took over in 2025 and didn't hesitate to move on from him, partly because he didn't fit their vision but also to free up nearly $7 million in cap space.
Engram quickly found a new home with the Denver Broncos, but his first season in Mile High left much to be desired. Now, the 2017 first-round pick finds himself on a list no player wants to appear on.
Former Jaguars TE Evan Engram is dubbed one of the most overpaid NFL players
Moe Moton of Bleacher Report took a look at the most overpaid NFL players at each position. He included Evan Engram on the list, arguing that he could be an afterthought on the Broncos offense due to the array of weapons they have.
"Troy Renck of the Denver Post believes wide receiver Jaylen Waddle's speed on the perimeter could open up the field for Engram on short-to-intermediate routes," Moton wrote. "On the other hand, the Broncos have a crowded wide receiver group with Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims Jr., and 2025 third-rounder Patr Bryant in the mix. Consequently, Engram may not see many targets in the passing attack."
For the sake of clarity, the issue isn't that Engram will have a reduced role on the Denver offense but rather that his production may not match his salary of $11.5 million next season.
Make no mistake, Engram was highly productive in his first season with the Jags, hauling in 73 receptions for 766 yards with four touchdowns. Along the way, he broke several records Kyle Brady previously held. The former Ole Miss Rebel followed his breakout year with an even better 2023, catching 114 passes — the third most by tight ends in a season — for 963 yards with four touchdowns.
However, injuries hindered Engram in 2024, and tight end Brenton Strange made a strong impression during his absence. The new Jaguars regime thought that Strange was a better fit than Engram and cut ties with the latter.
Engram proceeded to sign a two-year deal worth $23 million with Denver but wasn't particularly productive, reeling in 50 catches for 461 yards with one touchdown despite the fact that he suited up for 16 games. Meanwhile, Strange caught 46 passes for 540 yards with three touchdowns in four fewer games.
The Jaguars made the right call when they rolled with Brenton Strange
Brenton Strange was never going to put up the kind of volume Evan Engram had during his stint with the Jaguars. That said, Strange is a more complete tight end. His blocking skills set the tone in the Liam Coen scheme, unlike Engram, who struggles in that area.
Moreover, the Jaguars are paying Strange just $500,000 more than Engram — Strange's new deal is much better than the original report suggests — and are getting more bang for their buck than the Broncos.
While Brenton's Strange future looks bright, Evan Engram seems like a player whose best days are behind him. Maybe he could bounce back, but it's fair to say that the Broncos expected more from him last year. Meanwhile, the Jaguars aren't second-guessing their decision to move on from him.
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