Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - Denver Broncos Sign EVAN ENGRAM in NFL Free Agency | Sean Payton Gets His JOKER

Starting point is 00:00:00 Broncos country, Denver Broncos head coach, Sean Payton, has landed his joker at the start of the new league gear. What does this mean for the Broncos offense and for rookie quarter, not soon to be rookie, soon to be second your quarterback, Bo Nix in his second season. We'll break that down. And much more on today's episode, Locked on Broncos. You are locked on Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. What's happening in Broncos country?

Starting point is 00:00:34 you welcome into another episode, Lockdown Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, where you know what is your team every day. The new league year is officially here in the Denver Broncos and Sean Payton. They have found their Joker. Titan Evan Ingram is signing on a two-year deal to come to the Mile High City after he visited on Sunday, went to Shanahan's for dinner, visited the team facility all day, Monday. Now he'll land at the Broncos locker room for the 2025 season here.

Starting point is 00:01:03 We'll break it all down on this breaking news episode of Locked on Broncos. Thank you, everyone in Broncos country, all the everydayers out there. Thanks for making us your first listen. However you choose to do so, I'm Cody Roark. Broncos reporter here from Mile High Sports, joined as always by Sarah Beniger, Cy Expo there, predominantly orange.com. And Sarah, let's get into the breaking news right here on this bonus breaking news episode of the show. Evan Ingram, you know, there were some rumblings before pre-agency.

Starting point is 00:01:31 The new league year began at 2 o'clock p.m. mountain time where Broncos fans were frustrated, not in on Cooper Cup potentially. And also Evan Ingram was visiting the Chargers. Well, he's decided to go with the Denver Broncos. The Broncos took two losses to the Chargers during the season, but they get a W here in the offseason, which should help them. Obviously, climb the ladder there in the AFC West here in 2025. Cody, I feel like this is one of the biggest moves the Broncos could have possibly made in

Starting point is 00:01:58 the 2025 offseason. Evan Ingram, really the only Joker type of tight. that was out there in NFL free agency and the Broncos, they went and got him. You brought him in for a visit. You dined him at Shanahan. So Mike Shanahan's still making a positive impact on the Denver Broncos here today. Here's a massive statistic, Cody, that I didn't even realize. I know Evan Angerum has been a productive player in his career, but he has the second most

Starting point is 00:02:24 all-time receptions in a single season for a tight end. And that was just in 2023 when he had 114 catches, the all-time record for a single-season. for a tight end is 116 set by Zach Ertz while he was with the Philadelphia Eagles back in 2018. So relatively speaking, over the last 10 years, not many more guys have proven that they can be as ball dominant as Evan Engram. He's a move player for the offense. He's a mismatch player. He opens up the middle of the field. He wins at the catch point. He wins after the catch. This is a home run move on a short term deal. And we're going to talk about the future implications of it too. But look, for the.

Starting point is 00:03:03 the right now, for what he brings in terms of the chess match that is every single week in the NFL. This is about as big of a move as the Broncos could have made offensively so far in free agency. Well, in the way that I look at it as well, they instantly boost the tight-in position to something that the Broncos currently do not have. As much as I think that Adam Troutman is a reliable, you know, past catching option on third down, not necessarily a guy who's going to beat anybody across the middle of the field, but hey, you need a reliable checkdown target. I think Troutman could be that guy. But now the Bronco is Bo Nix. He has a weapon that can play in line and run elite level routes.

Starting point is 00:03:38 You've got a guy who can play as an offset wing where you can motion him and move him around to where you can get isolated matchups on linebackers on the middle of the field where you can get him out to the flat. I just posted a film review that I did on Evan Ingram over there on Mile High Sports YouTube page. So make sure you check it out after you're done listening or tuning into this episode wherever you get your podcast there. But there were a lot of people. I was seeing on social media like, oh, he's on the line. I was like, go watch his film.

Starting point is 00:04:01 I don't see the decline here, sir. I see a guy who has the opportunity to catch a pass in the flat, get upfield, and take it 60-something yards or longer if the opportunity presents itself. His size, 6'3, 240 pounds, the way that he moves, this is a great addition here for the Broncos offense, at least on paper, right? And the good news is his medicals have checked out. His shoulder is good. That was the one thing that impacted him last season.

Starting point is 00:04:27 Early on in 2024, he had a little bit of a hamstring injury. But you know what the Broncos have? they have the hamstring god that is beau lowry at this point here so his medicals check out he ultimately chooses the broncos over the los angeles chargers which to be honest with you sir if he signed in l a i was going to be a little worried because i was like wow that would have been a great addition for for jim harbon for justin herbert now the broncos get him they get courtland sutton you get marvin mims devon valet troy franklin these guys that had the opportunity to make place here for this offense and now it opens up i think what sean peyton and this team can do going forward for the remainder of NFL free agency. There's still some moves we expect them to maybe make, but also the NFL draft. They have complete flexibility. And even if you add a guy like Ingram into the mix,

Starting point is 00:05:11 it doesn't take away your opportunity to maybe add another tight end in the NFL draft. That's why I like this a lot, especially with Ingram being up there a little bit in the age. Mango watches film Explosive, Rout Runner. I shared a clip on social media just a few days ago when he was visiting. To me, this is a game-changing move here for the Broncos offense. on paper I said it makes him better.

Starting point is 00:05:32 Now we've got to see that translate onto the field here this upcoming season. 100%. And I think we will see that, Cody. I think that you get this move done early in the offseason. It allows those guys to go work together. And I'm sure Bo Nix is happy. This represents arguably the biggest move the Broncos have made to support Bo Nix since he got to Denver, which I know it's only been a year.

Starting point is 00:05:54 And now we're in the beginning stages of the off season. But this move is also indicative that the Broncos believe. that they are in a championship type of window. And so I agree with Miles who's commenting, Cody, look, hey, if his visit to the Chargers included a visit to the trophy case, look, that says it all, right? Ingram, it's where they've got three. And obviously, he played with the Jaguars where their culture is not winning. So I'm excited about the Broncos getting him.

Starting point is 00:06:22 If anybody's wondering, obviously the salary cap implications of this, we don't know exactly the year one cap hit, but Ingram signed a 23. million dollar deal and at 11.5 million per season. He's counting for just just about four percent of the salary cap. If that's if it's an 11.5 million hit, which we know based on the fact that deals get spread over the lifetime of the contract, it's not going to be an 11.5 million dollar cap hit this year for Evan Ingram's likely going to come in quite a bit lower than that, probably around half that. So I would guess that the Broncos obviously with this being smart financially, they've got to a ton of salary cap space next year.

Starting point is 00:07:02 And now you've got an opportunity to build on this, Cody. That's what I'm so excited. Like when you get to this point in an NFL off season to where you can build on something that's already exciting, where you're not necessarily, you go into the NFL draft or you've got all these holes to plug. I know we're going to talk about that coming up. I just feel like Evan Ingram coming in right now, it just raises the bar of the off season immediately.

Starting point is 00:07:25 Getting the already top three defense to another level with. the additions of Tallano, Fonga, and Dre Greenlaw was huge. But getting the offense to the next level, they scraped the Claudeville with 10 ranking in scoring last year. But the playmakers and the players who are surrounding Bo Nix, Bo Nix kind of dragged that offense to a top 10 ranking. And he needs guys around him to help elevate him as well. And so I couldn't be more excited about this move, Cody.

Starting point is 00:07:55 I know it's short term, but still feel like the Broncos absolutely hitting a grand slam and free agency right now. Well, Broncos country, make sure you let us know your thoughts on this signing. I mean, we don't want to hand out grades here, but your level of excitement for what this may mean here for Bow Nicks and the Broncos offense, when you go and look at that film review and you see what he's able to do, the type of weapon he can be as a move around piece. He does fit that Joker criteria that Sean Payton has discussed in the Broncos. Now, not only do they get a guy who can help them on third down, middle of the field,

Starting point is 00:08:24 they get a guy who can also increase their elevation and their success rate inside the red zone. He's a true red zone threat with his size. This makes the Broncos offense better on paper. And I think it's going to make a big difference here in 2025. But Broncos, we're not done yet here on today's breaking news episode of Locked on Broncos. With the Ingram move now in place, where do the Broncos go next year in NFL free agency? And does it change maybe their plans for the NFL draft? That's something that we're going to discuss here on today's brand new episode, Locked on Broncos.

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Starting point is 00:11:00 He's coming back to the Mile High City after taking a little detour there to visit the Los Angeles Charters. But Broncos country, Sean Payton, he might have his Joker before the 2025 NFL draft even starts. But the nice thing about signing a player like Evan Ingram is the fact that, hey, you could do whatever you want in the NFL draft. You could even take another tight end early on if you want to. but Bo Nix has another weapon and we're excited for all of you that are joining this live show, locked on Broncos today.

Starting point is 00:11:29 And if you're not already an everyday listener, hey, while you're watching this live, go ahead, hit that subscribe button right away, take a couple of seconds. You know your boys, Cody and Sarah will have you covered all offseason no matter what happens with the Denver Broncos and what's next for this Denver Broncos team. Because look, I mean, let's go all in now, Cody. That's my mentality. Obviously, I'm a fan of the team. you know, I want the team to go all out for the players.

Starting point is 00:11:54 I love the 2014 style off seasons where you sign all the guys. And shout out to Osbaldo for noticing the hat. It's one of the hats that always gets comments, Cody. The people love this hat, by the way. But I'm going for Cooper Cup next. I don't know about you. If it's me, I'm going after him. The Rams just cut him.

Starting point is 00:12:12 I'm sure by the time, you know, the free agency gets going. Other teams are going to be in on him. But I'd continue rolling if I'm the Denver Broncos. I wouldn't stop here. I wouldn't say, hey, let's just stand pat till the NFL draft. Yeah, look, you have flexibility now. And I think the plan for Sean Payton in this offense in general was to address it primarily in the NFL draft.

Starting point is 00:12:32 Sure, you can add maybe some depth options at the defensive line position, maybe even in your secondary, maybe even at linebacker if you wanted to. But now with Evan Ingram here, with Cortland Sutton, who the team is working on, as we know, they want to get a contract extension with him either before or after the NFL draft. You got your three young guys at wide receiver in the mix. and now you have Evan Ingram. And if you go out and you get a running back and the run game is good on paper, this Broncos offense is exciting. It's going to be fun to watch, barring any injuries. They have their offensive line fully intact at this point.

Starting point is 00:13:02 This is where things can get exciting. This is where you can play mad scientist right now. So let's talk about Cooper Cup here on today's show. Now, if I'm Cooper Cup, I'm looking at the Broncos. Of course, he's going to have suitors. He's going to have opportunities to go to some really good teams. But the Broncos are a team that is interested. If I'm Cooper Cup, I'm looking at it.

Starting point is 00:13:20 as, hey, this is a team with these moves that they're making on defense. And he's played against guys like Drey Greenlaw, Talanoa, Hufanga, twice a season. But when you look at, okay, they're adding Evan Ingram. They got Cortland Sutton. They got this. This becomes an appealing destination here for guys like Cooper Cup here. And I think that would be hard to ignore here. Now, if anything, could this be the last splash the Broncos make in free and see?

Starting point is 00:13:43 If so, I'm okay with it. I think that they have made enough moves right now to kind of move the needle. You get the two big defensive additions. Evan Ingram's big for you. I don't see anybody on the NFL free agency market that the Broncos will go out there and say, hey, this is going to be a big splash for us. Maybe a veteran running back like a Nick Chubb on a one-year deal. Like low-risk, high-reward type of move if you want to really bring a veteran back in,

Starting point is 00:14:05 I don't think that's the direction they go. I think they go NFL draft. But in your opinion, with them taking Evan Ingram, and Broncos country is also chiming in on this here on today's show, does that take away from them maybe looking at tight end in round one for a Colston-loveland or Tyler Warren or even maybe even going round two, round three with guys like Terrence Ferguson, if he's available there. Or do you think running back now becomes the top priority for the Broncos here in free agency

Starting point is 00:14:29 in the draft? Well, first of all, I want to say that as we're sitting here right now, and I hate to be this guy because there's always these people who say this, but I don't think Colston Loveland or Tyler Warren are going to be on the board for the Denver Broncos at pick number 20. I know a lot of people are taking issue with that, but mock draft machines have kind of ruined what NFL teams really actually think about these guys. Like you've heard a number of times people say there's not much difference between the 10th best guy in this draft and the 35th best guy in this draft.

Starting point is 00:15:00 They're all kind of lumped into the same grading system. Anybody that you look at out there, their rankings who has connections with NFL teams like Daniel Jeremiah, people like that, they have Colston Loveland in their top 10 prospects. And so that's how NFL teams view him. He's a top 10 type of player in this class, which there's not a lot of blue-chipped guys.

Starting point is 00:15:19 So I'm not sitting here saying he's the next Brock Bowers. But what I'm saying is that in a draft class like this, he's going to be coveted because of Brock Bowers. And teams are going to take him well before the Denver Broncos. The Colts at 14, they ain't letting him get by. I mean, no way. Not when you bring in Daniel Jones to potentially start for you. They got all those weapons already and just missing a tight end.

Starting point is 00:15:41 Like I don't see Colston Loveland being there. Tyler Warren, he's already way out of the discussion realm. I think at this point, running backs even could be interesting. I was just talking about this and thinking about it. If Ashton Gentie, Cody, goes to the Raiders at 6, Omerian Hampton could easily go 10th to the Bears, where we know Ben Johnson loves running backs,

Starting point is 00:15:59 12 to the Cowboys, where they don't have anybody besides Giovante Williams right now, and we know how that went. So I think that there's a possibility that the Broncos are looking at a completely different position than everybody's thinking in round one as of this point in time. But when it comes to NFL free agency, I would be putting all my chips in the middle of the table on Cooper Cup or somebody at wide receiver to really solidify this offseason as, hey, we've done everything that we possibly can to raise the floor of this roster to the point that when we get to January, because what did Sean Payton say after the bills lost? He said, we need to find a way to get to be hosting these types of games. How do you do that?

Starting point is 00:16:39 You bring in guys who have played in those big games who can make impacts in big games. So I agree with the commenter that you just flashed up there. Cody Mason Taylor might be that guy at tight end for the Broncos, maybe trading back from 20, maybe even taking Mason Taylor at 20. It's not a conventional line of thinking, but I mean, taking Mason Taylor at 20 might not be a bad idea.

Starting point is 00:17:00 In my opinion, like if it were up to me, if I was the general manager, the first three picks of your NFL draft hall and your top 100, they're all offensive players in my opinion. I think that's the path that Denver should go because you do have Boe Nix here on this rookie deal. Evan Ingram, as somebody said, is not like a permanent fixture.

Starting point is 00:17:15 He's a weapon that, you know, I think provides immediate value to what you're looking at at the tight end position specifically. Running back, you got four young guys right now that the team likes. But, you know, if you have a chance to upgrade that position and get a jack-of-all-trades type of guy here, things could really up. Because look, you know, some people are saying that Evan Ingram isn't a Joker. I will encourage you once again after this, go to Mile High Sports YouTube page and watch the film review that I did and tell me he can't be a Joker when you watch his tape.

Starting point is 00:17:42 Look, that's the thing that stands out like a sore thumb to me. And you mentioned going all in on a guy like Cooper Cup. I mean, Sarah, why wait, right? The Broncos, they want to win now. You know, a lot of people are saying, okay, hey, they're two or three years away. The organization is not thinking like that. They want to maximize whatever window that they have. And they want to create that window.

Starting point is 00:18:00 And, hey, if that window's starting to close a little bit, they want to break it open. And so I think that's the mindset here of Sean Payton. That measured but aggressive approach here so far has led to three great value, no pun intended picks here with Drey Greenlaw, Tala Noah, Hu Fonga, and also now Evan Ingram into the mix here. We'll see if the Broncos make any more moves throughout the rest of free. And see, and of course, if they do, you know what that means. You mean it's your breaking news episode here of Lockdown Broncos. We appreciate your Broncos country so much for tuning in and making us your first listen.

Starting point is 00:18:31 However, you choose to do so, you know, Sarah Bender, myself, we're going to be back with another episode of the show in case you missed it. Or if you want a little bit of a preview what tomorrow is going to bring. talked about Justin Sternard's return and some competition between Justice Sternard, Drew Sanders, and Alex Singleton at Inside Linebacker. Make sure you check it out. So you never miss out. But with that said, that'll wrap up today's breaking news episode of Lockdown, Broncos. Brockos Country, appreciate you, as always.

Starting point is 00:18:57 We'll catch you next time for another episode of the show.

Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - Denver Broncos Sign EVAN ENGRAM in NFL Free Agency | Sean Payton Gets His JOKER

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