An old adage says that deadlines spur action and that was certainly the case when the Jacksonville Jaguars and Evan Engram agreed to a three-year contract worth $42.5 million just one day before the deadline to get a deal done.
Had Engram and the Jags not been able to reach an agreement, he would have played the 2023 season under the tag and made $11.345 million. But that wasn't the case, as they ended up striking a deal that seems favorable for both parties.
Even though Engram won't be making top-5 tight end money, he'll be making more than what he was originally going to get under the tag in 2023. On top of that, he's got the long-term security the tag doesn't provide. Meanwhile, the Jags get one of their best offensive weapons back.
With Engram joining an offense that includes, Zay Jones, Christian Kirk, Calvin Ridley and Travis Etienne, Jacksonville should have no trouble putting points on the scoreboard at will next season. With that in mind, here are three takeaways in the aftermath of Engram getting a multi-year extension.
3. The Jaguars are rewarding Evan Engram and their star
Former Jaguars general manager David Caldwell seemed fixated on trading their best players for future assets or releasing them if that meant reducing the payroll and saving a few bucks. Not surprisingly, his penny-pinching ways led to roster attrition, and by the time he was kicked to the curb, the Jaguars' lacked talent at pretty much all positions. His successor Trent Baalke has bucked the trend over the last three years and has put an emphasis on retaining the team's stars and rewarding them. Engram Engram is the latest beneficiary but not the only one.
The first one was Cam Robinson last year, when he got a three-year deal worth $54 million. Next were nose tackle DaVon Hamilton and defensive end Roy-Robertson Harrison, both of whom got new deals earlier in the offseason.
Players pay attention to the moves front offices make and by giving Engram a long-term deal, the Jags are sending a clear message: Deliver and will take care of you.
2. The Jaguars are set at tight end for the next 2 years after inking Evan Engram
Tight end was one of the Jaguars' biggest needs last year and signing Evan Engram mostly took care of it. The former Ole Miss Rebel had a huge impact in his first season in Jacksonville, putting up career numbers and breaking several team records. However, Engram was slated to become a free agent because he inked a one-year agreement instead of a long-term deal.
Although Engram and the Jags made it clear they were both interested in getting a long-term deal done after the 2022 season, they ultimately used the franchise tag on him to prevent him from hitting the open market. However, Engram wasn't their only tight end eligible for free agency. Dan Arnold and Chris Manhertz also had expired contracts, but unlike Engram, the team didn't make an effort to bring them back and chose to let them walk instead.
Needing to replenish their tight end room, the Jags drafted Brenton Strange and later signed Sammis Reyes. The team will groom the former and give the latter a chance to make the 53-man roster. Also in the mix is 2021 fifth-round pick Luke Farrell, who will be an important depth piece next offseason.
Farrell will become a free agent in 2015 and Engram the following year. Meanwhile, Strange is set to hit the open market in the distant year of 2027, so it looks like the Jaguars are set at tight end for the foreseeable future.
1. After securing Evan Engram, the Jaguars can address the pass rush
Giving Evan Engram a multi-year contract not only ensure their star tight end remains in Jacksonville for the next three seasons but it also freed up cap space. See, teams can get creative when arranging a structuring deal and if he had played under the tag, he would have counted $11.345 million against the cap in 2023. But by giving him a long-term arrangement, they can push some of his salary into future years.
As Demetrius Harvey of The Florida Times Union reported, Engram is slated to have a cap hit of $5 million next season after signing his contract, which gives the Jags an additional $6.345 million to spend on top of the $12.69 million they had for a total of $20.2 million in space.
#Jaguars TE Evan Engram’s 2023 cap hit is $5M with his new deal agreed to today.
— Demetrius Harvey (@Demetrius82) July 16, 2023
That’s down from $11.345 (value of the fully gtd franchise tag).
With the extra cap room, the Jags can now bolster other position groups. More specifically, they can upgrade their pass rush by signing veteran defensive end Justin Houston or a familiar face in Yannick Ngakoue. Both players remain unsigned and looking for a new team.
Houston is still going strong and can thrive in a rotational role. On the other hand, Ngakoue can give the Jaguars a bigger boost but he will command a higher salary. Also, it's uncertain if he would feel comfortable joining Jacksonville's rotation instead of having a key role. Another option could be Melvin Ingram, who is also available.
Head coach Doug Pederson says he wants to see what the team's young players can do before considering outside options but fortifying their pass rush and adding depth to their defensive front would ensure the defense is in great shape in 2023.