5 notable Jaguars who won’t probably be back next season

No. 4 Jaguars player who might not return next season: Evan Engram, TE

Tight end was one of the Jaguars’ biggest needs in the offseason and they addressed it when they signed Evan Engram to a one-year deal. Like many of the moves Trent Baalke made earlier this year, this had the potential to backfire. But locking up the former Ole Miss Rebel has had a suitable outcome.

A first-round pick in the 2017 draft, Engram spent the first five seasons of his NFL career with the New York Giants. While he averaged 52 catches per year, he also struggled with drops and mental mistakes. But as expected, he’s thrived on Doug Pederson’s tight-end friendly offense, hauling in 12 receptions for 83 yards. He’s also registered a two-point conversion and hasn’t had a single drop.

Engram has become an important piece in the Jaguars’ offensive puzzle and they would surely like to keep him beyond 2022 but if he keeps playing the way he has, he’s going to be in high demand in free agency and teams desperate to upgrade their tight end room (and more cap space than Jacksonville) could end up making him an offer he won’t be able to refuse.

To make matters worse, Luke Farrell is the only tight end on the Jags’ roster whose contract won’t expire after 2022. Chris Manhertz and Dan Arnold are also set to become free agents next offseason, so it might be a good idea for the front office to heavily scout the 2023 tight end class.