A Strong First Impression
It hasn’t taken long for Evan Engram to feel at home in Denver. Just days into training camp, the veteran tight end is already impressed by the culture being cultivated within the Broncos locker room. What stands out most, according to Engram, is the intense work ethic that makes it difficult to distinguish oneself as the early riser.
“That’s probably my favorite thing about being a Bronco right now,” Engram said Friday. “Just the way that this team connects, the way they push each other, the way they challenge each other, the way that we’ve bonded, the standard that we have for ourselves, just the camaraderie we have, the laughs that we have. It’s an incredible locker room, a lot of great leaders.”
“I tell people, all my family, it’s hard to be the first one in the building. I’m used to being the first one in Jacksonville. I was always the first one, it was really easy, and here it’s kind of tough. A lot of guys doing it at the highest level. It’s just a contagious environment. We all want to get better and we all have high standards that we all want to achieve together.”
Contrast Between His Former Team And His New One
Engram’s comments highlighted the contrast between his former team and his new one. While the tight end thrived statistically in Jacksonville, posting 2,094 yards and nine touchdowns on 234 receptions over three seasons, the team’s performance fluctuated.
The Jaguars reached the AFC Divisional Round in Engram’s first year, only to miss the playoffs the next two seasons, culminating in a disappointing four-win campaign in 2024 that led to Doug Pederson’s dismissal. Jacksonville released Engram in March, while aiming to reset under new head coach Liam Coen.
Meanwhile, the Broncos have trended upward. Under head coach Sean Payton, Denver has moved from five wins in 2022 to eight in 2023, and reached 10 wins last season, earning their first playoff berth since 2015.
A Culture Shift Underway
Payton himself spoke about the culture change in Denver during Back Together Weekend, crediting last year’s roster for the transformation. “Sometimes it takes a year, but it’s gonna happen,” Payton said.
“That’s finding players that love playing, finding smart players and then putting them in those positions to have success. And I think it flipped last year. I can’t tell you what part of the season, but credit to last year’s team. It changed and it wasn’t just the postseason.”
“I think that stretch out east after we started the season 0-2 was real important. We had a Tampa Bay win on the road, a Jet win on the road. I think that stretch, bouncing back, led to where we’re at right now. Once you taste that, you like and want more of it. And you don’t want the other stuff, and then you add a few key pieces that have been in those positions. I like it.”
Several Experienced Players Brought In
Engram is one of several experienced players brought in to strengthen an already improving roster. Denver added established defenders Talanoa Hufanga and Dre Greenlaw in free agency, while continuing to develop its young core.
Quarterback Bo Nix enters his second season as a rising leader. Courtland Sutton brings veteran savvy to the receiving corps, Nik Bonitto broke out in 2024 as a disruptive force off the edge, and Patrick Surtain II is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Having experienced the pitfalls of inconsistency in Jacksonville, Engram appears fully bought in on Denver’s all-in mentality.
Though it’s early in the season, Week 16 could carry added weight when Engram and the Broncos travel to Jacksonville to face his former team. For now, Engram’s focus remains on building chemistry and contributing to what he sees as a tightly connected and highly motivated locker room.