Two consecutive years of missing the playoffs changed things for a once-promising Jacksonville Jaguars team, leading to a new head coach and the departure of some key talent. Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos have been trending upward ever since they hired Sean Payton in 2023.<\/p>\n
Now, the Broncos are ready to capitalize on the arrival of their new franchise quarterback, Bo Nix, and they\u2019ve accelerated that process by trying to surround him with more weapons. One of the ways they\u2019ve done that is by trading for two-time Pro Bowl tight end Evan Engram, who\u2019s preparing for his first season with his new team.<\/p>\n
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While Engram is only a few days into training camp with his new team, he\u2019s already noticed a significant difference between the Jaguars and Broncos. Specifically, Engram believes his new team is more equipped to compete at the highest level, whereas the Doug Pederson Jaguars were not.<\/p>\n
\u201cI tell people, all my family, it\u2019s hard to\u00a0be the first one\u00a0in the building. I\u2019m used to being the first one. In Jacksonville, I was always the first one. It was really easy. Here, it\u2019s kind of tough. A lot of guys doing it at the highest level. It\u2019s just a contagious environment. We all want to get better, and we all have high standards that we all want to achieve together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Evan Engram on Jacksonville Jaguars\/Denver Broncos<\/p>\n
For what it\u2019s worth, Engram did enjoy a career year in Jacksonville in 2023, racking up 963 yards and four touchdowns, earning his second Pro Bowl nod. But with no playoff appearance, Engram\u2019s numbers were a lost cause.<\/p>\n
Still, producing as an elite tight end helped him stay on the Broncos\u2019 radar, and it sounds like he\u2019s already fitting in well with his new teammates. We\u2019ll find out whether it leads to even better results soon enough.<\/p>\n