Broncos Newcomer Earns Honorable Mention in Latest NFL Execs’ Rankings

Evan Engram battled injuries in a regression season in 2024, but that didn’t stop him from earning accolades as one of the best tight ends in football.

Though the new Denver Broncos tight end did not earn top-10 honors on the ESPN-compiled list of best tight ends unveiled Friday, he did receive honorable mention.

ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler is compiling the list of best players at each position as judged by NFL coaches, scouts and executives over a two-week span before training camps open.

Engram signed a two-year, $23 million contract with the Broncos in March. Despite playing only nine games, Engram amassed 47 catches for 365 yards as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Why Is Evan Engram Honorable Mention On The Top-10 List Of Tight Ends

Earning honorable mention puts him in the top-20 tight ends in the NFL, though he was ranked ninth on the list a year ago.

Still, if the first-round pick of the New York Giants from the 2017 NFL Draft is healthy, he should have a bounce-back season in Denver.

“Persistent matchup issue due to his athletic ability and explosive plays,” an NFC executive told Fowler. “He’s gotten more polished and dependable throughout his career.”

Even though he will turn 31 on Sept. 2, Engram is still just one season removed from a 114-catch, 963-yard, Pro Bowl season with the Jaguars.

Engram is averaging 45.6 yards per game and has 25 TDs in his NFL career. Until last year, he had missed just one game over the previous four seasons.

Even though he missed almost half the season, Engram still would have easily been the most prolific tight end in Denver’s offense last season. Denver’s four tight ends had 51 catches for 483 yards and five touchdowns.

Engram made a great security blanket for Trevor Lawrence and should again for Bo Nix in the Broncos offense in 2025.

Who Was On The Top-10 List Of Tight Ends?

Engram wasn’t the only tight end to drop on this list from 2024, especially since Las Vegas Raiders sensation Brock Bowers, who finished second in NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year voting behind Jayden Daniels, finished atop the list of tight ends.

George Kittle retained his spot as the No. 2 tight end on the list. Sam LaPorta of the Detroit Lions was third. Trey McBride of the Arizona Cardinals was fourth, and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — last year’s No. 1 tight end — rounded out the top-5.

The Baltimore Ravens had two tight ends on the list, Mark Andrews (No. 6) and Isaiah Likely (No. 8).

The Pittsburgh Steelers also had two tight ends listed in the honorable mention section, Pat Freiermuth and recently acquired Jonnu Smith.

Here is the full top-10 list of NFL tight ends compiled by ESPN:

1. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
2. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
3. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
4. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
5. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
6. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
7. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
8. Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens
9. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
10. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns

Honorable mention: Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears; Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills; Evan Engram, Broncos; Hunter Henry, New England Patriots; Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys; Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers; Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers.