The Los Angeles Chargers’ pursuit of tight end Evan Engram ended in disappointment as he opted to sign with their AFC West rival, the Denver Broncos. While losing a potential offensive weapon to a divisional rival is not uncommon, the circumstances surrounding Engram’s decision paint a particularly concerning picture.
Los Angeles Chargers Lost Free Agent To Division Rival
According to Mike Klis of 9News, the contract offers from the Chargers and Broncos were essentially identical. “Again, his visit included a physical. He took a Tuesday redeye flight back to his Atlanta home, where Wednesday morning he and his wife Emily talked and prayed over the decision. As it turned out, the offers from both the Chargers and Broncos were about the same. Engram chose the Broncos,” Klis reported.
It’s possible Engram and his representatives used the Chargers’ interest as leverage to secure his preferred destination. Regardless, the outcome is that LA missed out on a former first-round pick, despite their urgent need for a top-tier tight end to complement quarterback Justin Herbert.
Fans are likely to attribute this failure to offensive coordinator Greg Roman, and there might be some validity to that. Scheme and historical offensive tendencies likely played a role in Engram’s decision. Tight ends seeking heavy usage in the passing game may be hesitant to join a run-first offense, especially one that recently acquired Najee Harris.
This setback may force LA to prioritize drafting a pass-catching tight end in the first round. This strategy makes them predictable and vulnerable to other teams jumping ahead in the draft to secure prospects like Colston Loveland, thus limiting their options.
Ultimately, with their significant cap space, they should have been able to secure Engram. Losing a key target, particularly a No. 1 tight end for Herbert, to a divisional rival is a significant setback.
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