Jacksonville Jaguars expected to franchise tag TE Evan Engram

The Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to use their franchise tag on tight end Evan Engram, who spent the 2022 season with the team. This was first reported by Adam Schefter.

According to Ian Rapoport, if the sides are able to get a long-term deal done by March 7th, then they won’t need to use the franchise tag on him. That opens Jacksonville up to use it on another player.

The Jaguars and Evan Engram rolled the dice on one another last free agency. Engram signed a one-year contract worth $9 million. It more than worked out for both sides, as Engram had 73 receptions for 766 yards and four touchdowns. He helped the Jaguars make the playoffs and was one of Trevor Lawrence’s favorite targets.

Prior to joining the Jaguars, Evan Engram played with the New York Giants from 2017-2021. In 2020, the former Ole Miss standout was named to the Pro Bowl.

Engram is expected to be paid $11.345 million in 2023 if he’s on the franchise tag.

More on the 2023 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2023 calendar year is set to begin at 4 p.m. ET on March 15 when contracts running through 2022 will officially run out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 7. Beginning March 13 through March 15 teams will be allowed a legal negotiation with players who are set to become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 21 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets while April 26 marks the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets. 722 players are slated to become free agents in 2023.

More on restricted, exclusive rights free agents

Players with only three years of accredited NFL experience become restricted free agents. Their original team will have the option to apply first-round, second-round, original-round, and right-of-fight-of-first-refusal tenders on players at escalating price tags. The higher the round, the more expensive the tender amount; however, if a separate team does offer a contract and the original team does not match that round pick will be conveyed from the new team to the original team. Right of first refusal only gives a team the option to match or not. If they don’t match, they get nothing in return. An original-round tender would send a draft pick from whatever round the player was drafted back to the original team if they chose not to match. The original team will have five days to match once a player signs an offer sheet from a new team.