The Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to place the franchise tag on tight end Evan Engram, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday.
The tight end franchise tag is $11.345 million.
The deadline for teams to use the franchise tag is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.
The Jaguars are also expected to attempt to trade or release cornerback Shaquill Griffin in the coming days, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Griffin hasn’t played at a high level in his two seasons with the Jaguars, and he missed 12 games in 2022 because of a back injury. Releasing him would save the Jaguars $13.15 million.
Engram, 28, set career highs in catches (73) and receiving yards (766) to go along with four touchdowns last season. Those are the most catches and receiving yards by a tight end in a single season in Jaguars franchise history, surpassing the marks set by Kyle Brady in 2000.
As shown with the Jaguars, Engram is best suited for a system that moves him around the formation, allowing him to either get loose underneath or work the second and third levels of the route tree and run after the catch.
Engram is the fourth tight end in Jaguars franchise history to surpass 50 catches in a season and only the second to surpass 60.
Of his 73 catches, which tied for third among NFL tight ends, 60 came when Engram was lined up in the slot or out wide. Since he entered the NFL in 2017, he ranks fifth among tight ends in receptions (335) and receiving yards (3,594).
The New York Giants drafted Engram 23rd overall in 2017, and he caught 262 passes for 2,828 yards and 16 touchdowns in five seasons. He said he wanted a fresh start and felt that signing with the Jaguars would give him a chance to put up some good numbers in coach Doug Pederson’s tight end-friendly offense.
The Jaguars wanted to give him a multiyear deal, but Engram said he only wanted to sign a one-year deal and reevaluate things after the 2022 season. Engram told ESPN during the season that he felt rejuvenated in Jacksonville and wanted to return.
The Jaguars signed Griffin, 27, to a three-year, $40 million contract with $29 million guaranteed in March 2021. He was a Pro Bowl selection with the Seattle Seahawks in 2019 but didn’t reach that level of play with the Jaguars. Griffin intercepted six passes in four seasons with the Seahawks but didn’t have an interception in 19 games with the Jaguars.
Opposing quarterbacks completed 67% of their passes and six touchdowns when he was the nearest defender in his two seasons with the Jaguars, per NFL Next Gen Stats.
Source: www.espn.com