Jaguars free agency: 3 potential candidates for the franchise tag in 2023

The deadline to use the franchise tag is March 7, so the Jacksonville Jaguars still have plenty of time to decide whether they’ll place it on one of their potential free agents this season. If they do, it would be the third time in a row they’ll use the tag, having put it on left tackle Cam Robinson the last two years.

General manager Trent Baalke met with the local media ahead of the offseason and said he hopes the Jags don’t have to use the franchise tag this year.

“I’m hoping we don’t need to use it,” Baalke said. “Right now, we’re evaluating this team as a staff. Doug and the rest o the coaches are going through an end-of-the-season process that we’ve set up. Our personnel staff is doing the same thing. We’ll join forces tomorrow and meet for most o the morning to really put a plan in place for how we’re going to attack this offseason.

The Jaguars have 13 unrestricted free agents in 2023 and here are the most likely candidates to get slapped with the franchise tag.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars candidate for the franchise tag: Arden Key

The Las Vegas Raiders made defensive end Arden Key a third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft in hopes of bolstering their pass rush. However, they moved on from him after three uneventful seasons in 2021. The former LSU Tiger then signed with the San Francisco 49ers and went on to have a career year, registering 6.5 sacks, 22 total tackles, and 17 quarterback hits.

Following his productive season with the Niners, Key had the chance to sign with the Kansas City but instead inked a one-year deal with Jacksonville, calling it a bigger challenge. He went on to become an important piece in the pass rush rotation and finished the 2022 season with 45. sacks, 27 total tackles, and 15 quarterback hits.

Key is set to become a free agent once again and re-signing him should be at the top of the Jaguars’ priority list. His 81.3 Pro Football Focus in 2022 is the highest among the team’s pending free agents and should have a robust market if he hits the open market.

Of all the candidates on this list, Key is the least likely to get the tag. He certainly deserves to get paid but using the tag on a role player that appeared in less than 50 percent of the team’s total snaps doesn’t make sense from a financial perspective. Then again, you should always expect the unexpected when it comes to the NFL.

Chances of getting the franchise tag: 5 – 10  percent

2. Jacksonville Jaguars candidate for the franchise tag: Jawaan Taylor, RT

Some NFL players can make an impact right off the bat while others need a bit more time to hit their stride. Such is the case of right tackle Jawaan Taylor. A second-round selection in the 2019 draft, the former Florida Gator was a Day 1 starter for the Jaguars and has made 66 consecutive starts, not an easy feat in a sport as violent as football.

On the other hand, Taylor struggled with penalties early in his career. Moreover, he wasn’t particularly great in pass protection, allowing an average of 44 total pressures in his first three seasons. However, the right tackle turned the corner in 2022, allowing just 11 total pressures and five sacks.

Taylor said he wants to re-sign with the team that took a chance on him in the draft but he will be highly coveted in the open market. Good offensive tackles get paid in free agency and if the Jags don’t give him a long-term deal, someone else will.

Working against Taylor re-signing with the Jaguars is that they already paid left tackle Cam Robinson last season. Furthermore, they already have a potential replacement at right tackle in Walker Little. Then again, if Jacksonville can’t reach a multi-year contract with Taylor but still want to keep him around, the franchise tag then becomes an option.

Chances of getting the franchise tag: 15 percent

1. Jacksonville Jaguars candidate for the franchise tag: Evan Engram, TE

Signing Evan Engram last offseason didn’t look like a good move. After all, the former Ole Miss Rebel made the Pro Bowl in 2020 but had also struggled with drops and mental mistakes throughout his tenure with the New York Giants. In the end, this turned out to be one of the Jaguars’ best free-agency additions, which is why general manager Trent Baalke is retroactively getting plenty of love.

A first-round pick by the Giants in 2017, Engram had never had more than 70 catches in a season and he had scored four touchdowns or more just once in his NFL career. However, he went on to post career highs for both receptions and passing yards. Similarly, he broke the Jags’ records for receiving yards by a tight end in a game, receptions by a tight end in a season, and receiving yards by a tight end in a season.

Given how much he improved in 2022, Engram should have his fair share of suitors if he hits the open market. Then again, he’s already said that he wants to return to Jacksonville after having the best year of his life. Head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke have already made it clear they want him back, so it looks like there’s mutual interest.

On the other hand, Engram Engram will most likely be seeking top-market compensation. In order to keep him for at least one more year, the Jags shouldn’t rule out applying the franchise tag.

Chances of getting the franchise tag: 50 percent