Jaguars can sign Evan Engram in free agency to bolster TE room

NFL teams know the impact a tight end can have on offense, that’s why it wasn’t shocking to see the Dallas Cowboys, the Cleveland Browns and the Miami Dolphins apply the franchise tag on Dalton Schultz, David Njoku, and Mike Gesicki, respectively. Both of them would have had demand for his services if they had hit the open market but now the Jacksonville Jaguars will have to look somewhere else for help. If they still want to sign a tight end in free agency, they could turn their attention to Evan Engram, who will be one of the top options available.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that teams have inquired about Engram possibly playing slot receiver along with his ability to line up at tight end. He adds that it’s believed he could be a matchup problem as a receiver. A first-round pick by the New York Giants in the 2017 NFL Draft, Engram has appeared in 65 games with 51 starts and logged 262 receptions for 2,828 yards with 16 touchdowns. He’s averaged 10.0 yards per reception or more in all but one season.

You could even argue that Engram’s numbers would be better if he were catching passes from a different quarterback. He played with an aging Eli Manning early in his first two seasons and later with Daniel Jones, who hasn’t shown he’s the long-term answer at quarterback in the Big Apple.

Evan Engram will be one of the top free-agent options for the Jaguars.

With Gesicki and Schultz off the market, Zach Ertz will arguably be the top tight end in free agency. The fact that he played for Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson back in Philadelphia could lure him to Jacksonville. On the other hand, Engram will also be a viable candidate. He’s ranked 65th in Pro Football Focus’ top 200 list of free agents.

PFF projects that Engram will sign a two-year deal worth $18 million with $10 million guaranteed but he might get a higher deal depending on the demand in the open market. The franchise tag for tight ends was $10.9 million in 2022, so he would be a beneficiary of hitting the open market.

Even after the Jaguars used the franchise tag on left tackle Cam Robinson, they have ample can room to make a couple of splash signings in free agency, and if they want to fortify their tight end room, they could sign either Ertz or Engram.

Wide receiver is still the Jaguars’ top offseason priority but acquiring a tight end to pair with Dan Arnold would also give their offense a boost. When you take into account that they have the cap room to make it happen, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t get one in free agency.