Denver Broncos star tight end Evan Engram is dealing with a jersey number dilemma, seeking to take No. 17 from teammate Devaughn Vele. Engram previously wore the number at Ole Miss and later with the New York Giants, before switching back to his college number when joining the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022.
Vele initially chose No. 81 when he joined the Broncos last spring, but was able to switch to No. 17 after Lil’Jordan Humphrey switched back to his old number at Utah. Now, with Engram’s arrival and a significant contract offer, Vele may be forced to reconsider the number.
Engram signed a $23 million deal with the Broncos, including an $8 million signing bonus, making it likely that he will try to convince Vele to loan him No. 17 for a fee. The Broncos’ latest move mirrors previous examples of player trades for NFL jersey numbers, as seen in Zach Wilson’s switch from No. 10 to No. 4 last year.
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/article/evan-engram-facing-jersey-number-110440773.html