Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram should embrace the franchise tag

The Jacksonville Jaguars couldn’t strike a multi-year contract with tight end Evan Engram, so they applied the franchise tag on him to prevent him from becoming a free agent. Engram would have loved to get a long-term deal but playing under the tag isn’t necessarily a bad thing. As a matter of fact, it might turn out to be the best outcome for him in the long run.

Engram was one of six players to get the tag this year. The others were quarterback Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens), running back Tony Pollard (Dallas Cowboys), Josh Jacobs (Las Vegas Raiders), running back Saquon Barkley (New York Giants), and defensive tackle Daron Payne (Washington Commanders). All of them can keep negotiations open until July 15. But after the deadline, they won’t be able to resume contract talks until next year.

Back in February, it looked like Engram and the Jaguars’ brass were going to strike a deal, as there was mutual interest to make it happen. However, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports that they weren’t close, so Jacksonville resorted to the tag.

"On Monday, the Jaguars officially placed the franchise tag on tight end Evan Engram. I’m told the two sides weren’t particularly close on a long-term deal, but of course they have until mid-July to hammer that out. Engram had the sort of season that reinforces to NFL owners why they must keep the tag and reinforces to the players why the tag must die in the next CBA."

The five highest-paid tight ends will make an average of $14 million or more in 2023, so it’s easy to understand why Engram would have gotten a deal done. Under the tag, he’s set to make $11.35 million guaranteed next season and he would have gotten a contract that pays him at least $14 million, possibly $15 million, in the open market.

Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram can get an even bigger deal in 2024

So let’s say Engram plays the season under the tag. He’ll have a shot at hitting the open market in 2024 or get slapped with the tag but since it would be the second one, it would have an increase of $20 percent, so he would get $13.62 million in 2024. Again, that’s below the top 5 but there are other players in line for a contract, such as Trevor Lawrence and outside linebacker.

The downside of using the tag (regardless of the time) is that you can’t spread the cap hit the way you could with a multi-year contract, so the Jacksonville Jaguars would need to let Engram walk or give him the contract he wants knowing Lawrence’s payday will be due soon.

Another disadvantage of playing under the tag is that players need to shoulder the injury risk, which they could shift to the team if they secure a long-term deal. On the bright side, if they manage to stay healthy, they would have come out well-compensated. Just look at Engram’s teammate Brandon Scherff, who was tagged twice by the Commanders and later signed a massive three-year deal worth $49.5 million with the Jags last season.

Scherff ended up making a combined $51 million in the two years he was tagged and last season. Engram could follow a similar path if he plays under the tag in 2023, and that’s something that should motivate him to have another career year.