Jaguars Will Reportedly Place a Franchise Tag on TE Evan Engram

Evan Engram with the Jacksonville Jaguars in August 2022
Evan Engram with the Jacksonville Jaguars in August 2022. Photo by Jason Pohuski/CSM/Shutterstock (13068195fh)

The Jacksonville Jaguars won’t allow other teams to make a pitch to tight end Evan Engram. According to multiple reports, the Jags will place a franchise tag on the 28-year-old player in order to prevent him from hitting the free agency.

Engram signed on a one-year, $9 million deal with the Jags ahead of the 2022 season and delivered a productive campaign that saw him get career-high 73 receptions and 766 receiving yards alongside four touchdowns. If he ends up signing the franchise tag, he will earn $11.345 million in 2023.

Despite the tag, the Jags remain interested in getting a long-term deal done with Engram. The player seems to be open to this option as well, considering how well he fits in the team’s offense, so don’t be surprised if the two sides come to an agreement before the season starts.

Evan Engram was drafted into the NFL by the New York Giants in 2017 with the 27th overall pick. He set the franchise record for most touchdown catches by a rookie (6) in his first season as a pro. Engram continued to be a prominent figure in the team’s offense, even earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2020, although he never felt comfortable in New York. The Giants reportedly offered him a new deal last March, but he opted for a fresh start in Jacksonville.

In his 82 games in the league, Engram made 335 catches for 3,594 yards and 20 TDs.