The Denver Broncos are currently looking to find someone who can fit into that elusive “joker” role in their offense. Head coach Sean Payton has done his best to stoke the excitement about this key spot in recent days. The label emphasizes tight ends and running backs who are exceptional outliers as threats to receive. That obsessive attention to detail has proven to be important for a retooling squad looking to rev up its offensive game ahead of the 2024 campaign.
Payton’s use of the term “joker” pays homage to the winning seasons Payton spent coaching the New Orleans Saints. There, he orchestrated high-octane offenses that featured QB Drew Brees. While with the Saints, Payton took advantage of the talents of 11 Pro Bowl selections—running backs and tight ends. This points to his greater fondness for multi-faceted players in propelling his creative offensive designs. Now, with even bigger ambitions, he hopes to bring that same success to Denver.
The Broncos have had nothing but bad luck in finding a good candidate for this one. Noah Fant was the last tight end to haul in 60+ passes for the team, accomplishing the task in 2021. Not until last year did no tight end even come close, with a record of four touchdowns scored by Julius Thomas back in 2014 with 12. The increased demand created by COVID-19 underscores an urgent need. His versatility means we need a guy to fill the joker role and now add him as another weapon in our offense.
Evan Engram came to the Broncos on a two-year contract this last March. Today, he is one of the leading candidates for just such a position. Engram has yet to score a reception during the Broncos’ first two preseason tilts. This performance has led many to question whether he is the right person for the job.
“People do seem to love the joker thing, for sure,” – Evan Engram
Given his proclivity for using useful chess pieces, Payton seems to think the Broncos have the players to thrive in this indispensable position. He emphasized that tight ends and running backs who can act as effective receivers become increasingly challenging to defend against than traditional blue-chip wide receivers.
“It’s just something when we were trying to identify the tight ends or running backs that are rare pass receivers,” – Sean Payton
In addition to Engram, J.K. Dobbins is developing into a major contender for the “joker” role. Last year, the new Chargers running back tallied a career-high 32 receptions in his final season with the Chargers. Rookie running back RJ Harvey and Jaleel McLaughlin are two more guys who would pass the eye test here. Payton remarked on McLaughlin’s potential:
“Harvey’s a candidate, Jaleel McLaughlin, he’s been to Joker school now for two years, but he’s not gotten his wings,” – Sean Payton
The unpredictability of players filling the “joker” role can give quarterbacks discernible advantages. Payton explained how these players can be especially valuable given their closeness to the quarterback in modern offensive alignments.
“Those players become more difficult [to defend] than the blue-chip receiver. … They’re so quarterback-friendly because they’re just closer to the [quarterback in the formation]. The halfback that’s an elite receiver, the tight end, those guys are really a quarterback’s friend,” – Sean Payton
In reality, the characteristics typically attached to the “joker” role were on full display during a third down play this past weekend against the Cardinals. A Washington player pulled off a jaw-dropping 58-yard catch-and-run that featured all of the stuff Payton dreams about for this new position.
Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs have both proven they can be productive in these kinds of roles on other teams. They’ve really been stars in their partnership with the Detroit Lions. Their success story is the best example of what Payton is trying to achieve in replicating with the Broncos.
The Denver Broncos don’t want to repeat last season’s mistakes. Furthermore, they have yet to find and cultivate a player who can fill the important “joker” role within their offensive scheme. With Sean Payton at the helm and a roster that includes several promising candidates, the Broncos aim to revitalize their offense and potentially secure a competitive edge in their division.
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