ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Perhaps there's no place like the Broncos' offense.
"It's been awesome, really," new tight end Evan Engram said. "I feel really at home in this offense."
A two-time Pro Bowler, Engram arrived in Denver with several impressive statistical seasons on his resume. He's recorded four campaigns with at least 60 catches and 650 yards, and he posted a 114-catch, 963-yard outing as recently as 2023.
As Engram looks to return to — and exceed — his previous success, his early practices with the Broncos have him believing he's found the right landing spot.
"I feel like my strengths are being used at the highest level," Engram said. "[Head Coach Sean Payton] also challenges me to be sharp with my tools and be sharp with my details, and the little things I need to clean up and get better at. He challenges me every single day. The different ways that they're planning to use me, the mentality they have and [the mentality] I want to have in the run game, as well, to make that entire thing universal.
"I'm just really excited to be in his scheme and excited to work with him throughout the season to help this team the best way I can."
The Broncos have just begun training camp, and they'll continue to hone their offense in the lead-up to Week 1. Still, Payton has seen Engram's potential impact over the offseason and early stages of training camp.
"He's doing well," Payton said Friday. "We're going to obviously try to utilize him to his strengths. You can see he picks things up well."
Yet while Engram's strength may rest in the passing game, the veteran tight end seems driven to improve all aspects of his skill set.
"A lot of people look down [on] and kind of doubt my run-blocking skills, kind of take it for granted when I'm on the field and might think it's more pass-heavy stuff," Engram said. "It's just [a] mentality for me to come out and improve in that aspect so I can be a well-rounded tight end."
Engram's focus on getting better extends far beyond his contributions in the run game. As he approaches his first season in Denver, the veteran tight end has a mindset of constant improvement — and sees that approach mirrored in the team's locker room.
"I'm just addicted to getting better," Engram said. "I never want to put a ceiling or a limit on the evolution of my game. There's always something I want to improve. I'm constantly chasing perfection. Perfection is impossible. but the closer I can get, the harder it is to beat me and the more I help my team. That's just the mentality I have.
"I constantly want to learn. I want to be a great leader, but also, I can be led, as well. I'm just in a great place here, just the mentality we have here at getting better every single day, one percent better. It's just the way I am, and it feels good to be in a place that matches that."
Engram said the team's culture is "probably my favorite thing about being a Bronco right now," and he highlighted the clear standard the team has for itself.
"It's an incredible locker room," Engram said. "A lot of great leaders. … It's just a contagious environment. We all want to get better and we all have high standards that we want to achieve together."
Even after highly productive seasons in his past, Engram is chasing a new elevated standard. And in Denver, he believes he's found the perfect offense — and place — to do just that.
