The Jacksonville Jaguars are coming off a season in which they made the playoffs and won the AFC South title. However, they have a few tough decisions ahead. Re-signing tight end Evan Engram is arguably the biggest one.
The former Ole Miss Rebel signed a one-year deal with the Jags last season and he’s set to hit the open market once again. He’s made it clear he wants to return to Jacksonville, going as far as saying last year was the best of his life. However, the Jaguars are currently $30 million over the cap and might not be able to offer Engram the kind of contract he would get in the open market.
Bringing Engram back seems like a realistic possibility but there’s an equal chance he will walk in free agency and the Jags must prepare for that scenario. If he does leave, here are three tight ends Jacksonville could sign in free agency.
No. 3 replacement for Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram: Mike Gesicki
Jacksonville seemed like a potential destination for Mike Gesicki before the Miami Dolphins slapped him with the franchise tag last offseason. Looking back, the Jags are surely glad they signed Engram but if they lose him in free agency, they should consider making a bid for Gesicki.
A second-round pick by the Fins in 2018, Gesicki was highly productive in 2020 and 2021, catching a combined 126 passes for 1,483 yards with eight touchdowns. However, he’s coming off a season in which he tallied 32 receptions for 365 yards, the second-lowest output of his career. He did reach the end zone five times but Miami probably expected better numbers from their franchise player.
There were reports Gesicki didn’t fit head coach Mike McDaniel’s scheme and he isn’t a particularly great blocker. However, he’s excellent in a slot wide receiver role. The fact that he’s healthy and is a pretty good receiving option would make him an appealing option in free agency.
No. 2 replacement for Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram: Austin Hooper
Four years is an eternity in the NFL but Austin Hooper was a Pro Bowl tight end for the Cleveland Browns in 2018 and 2019. He didn’t put up eye-popping numbers but still managed to deliver despite the fact that he had to split time with David Njoku.
As a matter of fact, the Browns made Hooper the highest-paid tight end in the NFL when they gave him a four-year deal worth $42 million in 2020. However, they seemed to have regretted giving him such a huge contract, as they released him last offseason.
Hooper went on to sign with the Tennessee Titans and had a solid year, hauling in 41 receptions for 444 yards with two touchdowns. Also, his 2.4 percent drop rate was the lowest of his career, dropping just one pass on 56 targets. While the former Stanford Cardinal hasn’t had more than 46 catches over the last three seasons, he had 71 and 75 in the two years he made the Pro Bowl. Clearly, he can play but having to split time with Njoku seemed to have affected his production.
Engram posted career numbers in head coach Doug Pederson’s offense and there’s a chance Hooper could do the same if he signs with the Jaguars. Moreover, signing him might be cheaper. Pro Football Focus expects him to sign a two-year contract worth $17 million with 11 million guaranteed. Meanwhile, Engram could get an annual average of $12 or 13 million.
No. 1 replacement for Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram: Dalton Schultz
Both Evan Engram and the Jaguars have expressed mutual interest in getting a deal done and there’s still plenty of time to find common ground. But if contract talks fall apart and he ends up leaving in free agency, the Jaguars should pursue Dalton Schultz, the top tight end in Pro Football Focus’ top 100 list of players slated to hit the open market.
In his first season with the Jags, Engram set team records for the most yards in a game by a tight end, the most catches in a season by a tight end, and the most receiving yards in a season by a tight end. Looking at how productive he was, general manager Trent Baalke will do everything within his power to bring him back but Schultz would be an adequate replacement. In fact, he could even be an upgrade.
Although Schultz was the third or four option in the Dallas Cowboys’ passing game in 2022, he was still able to catch 57 passes for 577 yards with five touchdowns. The prior season, he hauled in 78 receptions for 808 yards with eight touchdowns. Had Big D not used the franchise tag on him last offseason, he might have been in high demand in free agency.
If Schultz becomes a free agent, he won’t have a shortage of suitors. The downside of signing him is that it won’t be cheap. Pro Football Focus expects him to sign a contract that pays him $58 million over four years — an annual average of $14.5 million — with $36 million guaranteed. There’s no doubt he could give the Jaguars’ offense a boost but that price tag seems excessive, especially when you take into account that they won’t have much cap space this season.
Is Schultz worth a premium contract? Most definitely. Would he look great in Jaguars uniform? You bet, but tight end won’t be the only need Jacksonville will have to address if Engram leaves this offseason, so they might be better off passing on Schultz and investing their money in other position groups.