In Week 7, the Denver Broncos defeated the New Orleans Saints by a score of 33-10 on Thursday Night Football, their biggest win in 2024. That maintains them in the playoff picture at 4-3 with 10 games remaining.
With numerous teams falling quickly and the trade deadline just two weeks away, cries for the Broncos to capitalize persist.
According to Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report, Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram could be a potential target.
“Bo Nix’s rushing ability was key to the Broncos’ successful offense against the Saints.” On October 21, Ballentine stated that he had 75 rushing yards and Troy Franklin was the Broncos’ leading receiver with five catches for 50 yards.
“The Broncos are not getting much out of Adam Trautman as a receiver, and Lucas Krull was only relevant this week.” Getting a legitimate pass-catching tight end could help Nix advance to the next level as a passer. Given their rough start to the season, the Jaguars may be willing to part with Evan Engram. There would be some financial challenges, but the Broncos’ success could persuade them to put some chips in the middle of the table.”
Trautman, a willing blocker, has started six of the Broncos’ seven games.
He has two receptions for 28 yards from six targets. Krull has outperformed backups Greg Dulcich (five receptions for 28 yards on 12 looks) and Nate Adkins (4-19 on five targets), who follow closely behind.
Through seven games in 2024, the Broncos tight ends have caught 12 of 32 targets for 136 yards and no touchdowns.
Engram has five catches and 35 yards on five targets against the New England Patriots in Week 7.
In Week 6, he had 10 receptions for 102 yards on 10 targets against the Chicago Bears. This was his second game of the season, following a hamstring injury in Week 1. Engram caught 114 receptions (143 targets) in 2023, totaling 963 yards and four touchdowns.
Broncos Trade Pitch Lands Evan Engram From Jaguars
Engram, a Pro Bowler in 2020 and 2023, is due $1.2 million in basic salary for the next ten games. That is a prorated chunk of his $2 million compensation for 2024.
He is now in Year 2 of a three-year, $41.2 million contract.
His compensation will increase to $14.7 million in 2025. The Broncos can afford him for both seasons. However, if the Jaguars do not renegotiate his contract before the end of the 2025 season, he will count $9.5 million against the team’s salary cap in 2026.
This Heavy Sports trade proposal seeks to acquire Engram from the Jaguars, who won their second game of the 2024 season in Week 7.
The Broncos chose to transfer one of their pass rushers rather than potentially sending draft capital to the Jaguars or a high pick for Engram. Cooper ranks second on the team with 5.0 sacks.
He is now in the final year of a four-year, $3.6 million contract.
Broncos, Jaguars Can Help Each Other
Fellow edge defender Baron Browning is in a similar contractual situation at the end of a four-year, $4.7 million pact.
He could be substituted for Cooper in this package. But a foot injury that cost him four games this season could have significantly hurt his trade value. Meanwhile, Nik Bonitto starts opposite Cooper and the Broncos have rookie Jonah Elliss to replace whomever they would trade.
The Jaguars would incur a $17.5 million dead cap hit if they traded Engram during the season.
However, Ballentine also listed edge rusher among his top five needs for the Jaguars (the Broncos too).
Adding Cooper in a trade could help address two issues with Engram’s future looming large amid the team’s overall struggles. At the same time, Engram’s return preceded Jags QB Trevor Lawrence have two of his three best games of the season in terms of completion percentage.
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