Tag: Evan Engram

CBS: Jaguars TE Evan Engram is ‘perennially slept on’

CBS: Jaguars TE Evan Engram is ‘perennially slept on’

Evan Engram deserves more respect.

That’s what CBS analyst Tyler Sullivan believes, at least, following his career year with the Jaguars in 2023. Sullivan named Engram the Jaguars’ most underappreciated player while determining such a player for every AFC team on Friday, calling him “perennially slept on” among NFL tight ends.

Engram is perennially slept on as one of the best receiving tight ends that the NFL has to offer. Last season, the 29-year-old erupted with 114 receptions and 963 yards, which were both career-highs. To put Engram’s season into better context, he was fourth in the league among pass-catchers in receptions behind only CeeDee Lamb, Tyreek Hill and Amon-Ra St. Brown. While he won’t be lauded for his ability as a blocker, he’s shown to be a reliable pass-catching weapon at the position.

Only wide receiver Jimmy Smith’s 116 receptions during the 16-game 1999 season rank ahead of Engram’s 114 catches from last year in single-season Jaguars’ history.

Engram ended the 2023 campaign as Jacksonville’s most-targeted pass-catcher, with quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence and C.J. Beathard throwing his way 143 times. His 79.7% catch rate led all Jaguars receivers who averaged at least one target per game.

Since signing with Jacksonville two offseasons ago, Engram has compiled 187 receptions for 1,729 yards and eight touchdowns.

The Jaguars handed him a three-year, $41.3 million contract extension last summer, locking him in as one of Lawrence’s primary targets through the 2025 season.

After receiving his own contract extension in June, Lawrence pointed toward Engram as one of the franchise’s building blocks in its chase for a championship.

“Josh, there’s [linebacker] Foye [Oluokun], Evan, [wide receiver] Christian [Kirk], [guard Brandon] Scherff, there’s so many guys that you can point to,” Lawrence said. “[Safety Andre] Cisco, [cornerback] Tyson Campbell, all over the field that bring something unique to the table that we need.” 

Evan Engram ‘continues to really impress’ Jaguars’ Doug Pederson

Evan Engram ‘continues to really impress’ Jaguars’ Doug Pederson

His 114 receptions recorded in 2023 might have been good for the second-most in a single season in Jaguars history, but in Doug Pederson’s eyes, tight end Evan Engram has yet to peak in black and teal.

The two-season Jaguars pass-catcher and seven-year pro has continued to stand out with offseason workouts well underway in Jacksonville, memorably pulling in a stunning one-handed grab in front of reporters during OTA practices and, per his head coach, leading by example in other facets.

Moreover, his chemistry with Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is still growing.

“He just continues to improve, just understanding defense, our system, how he and Trevor are on the same page,” Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said Monday. “Evan was a great addition for us three years ago and continues to really impress.”

Engram’s presence in the Jaguars’ offense should prove critical once again in 2024, as the unit aims to bolster its explosive passing game, which struggled down the stretch in 2023 with Lawrence and slot receiver Christian Kirk injured to varying extents.

Engram became the focal point of Jacksonville’s receiving corps after Kirk exited the lineup in Week 13. He was targeted 12 or more times in three of the final five games of 2023, after reaching 10 targets in just one game over the first 12 matchups of the season.

But the offense faltered without its typical No. 1 receiver and with a dinged-up quarterback, averaging 18.3 points per game in Jacksonville’s four losses over the five-game stretch, despite Engram’s efforts. He posted 41 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns between Weeks 14-18.

Now — with Kirk healthy to pair with free agent signees, Gabe Davis and Devin Duvernay, and first-round NFL draft pick, Brian Thomas Jr., added to Lawrence’s arsenal of weapons — the Jaguars believe they have the pieces in place to solidify their deep passing attack.

Engram, who’s averaged 10.2 yards per reception in his career, might not be the primary target of long passes from Lawrence. But he’ll serve as a key cog in that respect nonetheless, one of the multiple Jaguars’ pass-catchers who should demand the attention of coverage defenders on a given play.

“We want to be able to have that explosive element to us. That’s something in the run game definitely that we’re looking at to improve upon but also in the pass game. Catch it on the move, making sure we’re attacking all aspects of the field and defense,” Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor said on May 28.

“… Evan and Christian from the inside, working inside out and being able to get matched up on safeties at times depending on the principles of the coverage. We feel like we have people that we’re able to push the ball down the field. Just got to get the opportunity and call those types of plays throughout the course of games.”

As Jacksonville seeks a return to postseason contention after Week 18 playoff elimination last season, Engram has become more outspoken within his leadership role, too.

“He’s another one of those guys that’s taken more of that vocal stance, especially with the offense. He’s also somebody that backs it up on the field,” Pederson said. “He’s done a nice job [and] continues to lead by example obviously. He’s not always the vocal guy, but when he needs to [be], he will.”

Better than average: Tight Ends

Which tight ends were truly the best against specific defenses?

As always, there are so few difference-making tight ends that after the top five of the position, there’s only moderate to mediocre fantasy value in all the rest. But as with the other positions, here are how tight ends fared considering how they stacked up against all other tight ends that faced the same defense.

See Also: Better than average
Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers

Evan Engram has been the No. 2 and No. 4 fantasy tight end for his two seasons in Jacksonville and yet is drafted as the No. 6 or No. 7 tight end in drafts this summer. This despite how good he played in most games. He was the only tight end that turned in over half of his games as a Top-4 tight end.

The position holds so few difference-makers that this listing shows which tight ends receive enough volume to end with Top-8 games. Newcomer Sam LaPorta shattered what we expect from a rookie tight end, and now has to avoid becoming the next Kyle Pitts. That shouldn’t be a problem since he’ll still have Jared Goff throwing the ball instead of Desmond Ridder who limited Pitts.

It was also encouraging to see how highly David Njoku and Cole Kmet rated in this metric. Trey McBride is popular this season, but his stats were boosted by three big games as the No. 1 for that defense.

LaPorta was dazzling as a rookie, and it wasn’t a case of him being the only receiver for the Lions. Travis Kelce dropped from 2023 when he had six No. 1 performances, and all 17 games were Top-8 against that defense. The fall may have seemed Swift, but he still was No. 2 for those big games.

T.J. Hockenson has been a beast for the Lions but blew an ACL and won’t be up to speed to start the year. The biggest surprise in the No. 1 performances was David Njoku, who ended as the No. 5 fantasy tight end in 2023 and has been going as the No. 8 or No. 9 tight end this summer.

PFF names deep passing game as Jaguars’ biggest strength

PFF names deep passing game as Jaguars’ biggest strength

While Calvin Ridley’s free-agent signing with the Titans left the Jaguars without their leading receiver from 2023 moving forward, their passing attack remains a focal point entering its 2024 campaign, arguably the team’s biggest strength.

Pro Football Focus made that argument in an analysis of every NFL team’s strengths, weaknesses and approach to retooling their rosters this year, praising the Jaguars’ deep passing offense as it appears on paper at this point in this offseason.

Despite Ridley’s exit, PFF commended Jacksonville for its selection of Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft and the signing of Gabe Davis in free agency to recuperate.

Biggest strength in 2023: Deep Passing Game

Despite losing Calvin Ridley to the division-rival Titans, the Jaguars still have a plethora of receivers who can make big plays downfield. First-round rookie Brian Thomas Jr. was among the best deep receivers in college football last season, ranking in the top 10 in this year’s draft class in receptions, yards and receiving grade on balls thrown at least 20 yards downfield. The team also signed free agent Gabe Davis, whose 93.5 receiving grade on deep balls tied Tank Dell for 12th best in the NFL. Getting the ball to those deep threats will be Trevor Lawrence, whose 96.6 deep passing grade in 2023 ranked fifth among quarterbacks with at least 10 such attempts.

Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor mentioned Tuesday that the explosive passing game has been emphasized throughout the offseason as the coaching staff has assessed and adjusted its playbook and personnel.

Thomas and Davis’ additions to a receiving corps that already includes productive slot Christian Kirk and Pro Bowl tight end Evan Engram were critical aspects of the team’s approach.

“We feel like we have people that we’re able to push the ball down the field,” Taylor said. “Just got to get the opportunity and call those types of plays throughout the course of games.”

PFF called Jacksonville’s pass rush its biggest weakness entering the 2024 season, naming edge rusher and former No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker as the team’s “X-factor” player as a result.

Watch: Evan Engram makes stunning one-handed grab at Jaguars OTAs

Watch: Evan Engram makes stunning one-handed grab at Jaguars OTAs

Jaguars tight end Evan Engram is known for making eye-popping catches throughout his NFL career. While his most recent occurred without pads or opposition on the practice field, it deserves praise as one of his best nevertheless.

Appearing to run a post route, Engram leaped up in between the hashes and high-pointed a deep pass from new Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones with his right hand, snatching the ball out of the air and securing it without assistance from his left hand before landing on the ground.

Engram, a seven-year pro, signed a one-year contract with Jacksonville via free agency ahead of the 2022 season and experienced one of the most productive campaigns of his career, setting single-season personal highs of 73 receptions for 766 yards, scoring four touchdowns.

Jacksonville franchise-tagged Engram last offseason before signing him to a three-year, $41.5 million contract extension in July 2023. He responded with another set of single-season career-bests, hauling in a whopping 114 receptions for 963 yards, to go with another four scores.

The Jaguars traded for Jones this offseason, acquiring him from New England, his drafted team, for a 2024 sixth-round pick. The Jacksonville native and product of Bolles High School has completed 66.1% of his passes for 8,918 yards with 46 touchdowns and 36 interceptions over three NFL seasons.

Fantasy Football Consistency Rankings – Tight Ends

A difference-maker at tight is rare, but a consistently good tight end is even more advantageous.

This ranking considers tight ends that started at least 11 games in 2023. Fantasy points were derived using one point per 10 yards rushed or received, six-point touchdowns rushed and one point receptions. Given that the position supplies only around 10 players of any fantasy note, there aren’t a lot of surprises here.

See Also:  Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers

Tight End Consistency

Tight Ends 10-Pt % GMS 10-pt 20-pt 5-catch 50-yard TD
T.J. Hockenson 80% 15 12 3 12 13 4
Travis Kelce 73% 15 11 3 11 9 5
Mark Andrews 70% 10 7 2 4 5 4
David Njoku 69% 16 11 2 9 8 5
Evan Engram 59% 17 10 3 13 9 3
Sam LaPorta 59% 17 10 3 10 8 7
George Kittle 56% 16 9 4 5 10 4
Cole Kmet 53% 15 8 2 9 5 4
Jake Ferguson 53% 17 9 1 7 5 5
Taysom Hill 50% 16 8 1 1 3 2
Trey McBride 47% 17 8 4 8 6 3
Dalton Schultz 47% 15 7 1 4 6 5
Dalton Kincaid 44% 16 7 0 9 6 2
Tucker Kraft 40% 10 4 0 1 3 2
Hunter Henry 38% 13 5 0 3 4 5
Jonnu Smith 33% 15 5 1 4 4 3
Darren Waller 33% 12 4 1 6 4 1
Donald Parham 33% 12 4 0 1 2 3
Logan Thomas 31% 16 5 1 5 3 4
Isaiah Likely 31% 13 4 0 2 3 4
Juwan Johnson 31% 13 4 1 2 1 4
Dallas Goedert 29% 14 4 1 7 4 3
Gerald Everett 27% 15 4 0 4 0 3
Tyler Higbee 27% 15 4 0 5 3 1
Michael Mayer 25% 12 3 0 1 1 2
Kyle Pitts 24% 17 4 0 2 4 3
Tyler Conklin 24% 17 4 0 4 6 0

T.J. Hockenson was the most consistent tight end in 2023. But his knee injury may force him to miss a sizable chunk of this season.  Mark Andrews broke his leg as well, but is expected back. David Njoku had few big games but was one of the most consistent tight ends and Sam LaPorta shattered what we expect from a rookie. Nine tight ends managed over 10 points in more than half of their games, so most fantasy teams should avoid from having the position as a liability.

Travis Kelce may have dropped last year, but he was still elite regardless. There’s consistency from year to year with upper-tier in the position because those players have proven to be a big part of their offense’s passing scheme.

20-Pt Gm 5 Catch Gm 50-yard Gm TD Gm
George Kittle 4 Evan Engram 13 T.J. Hockenson 13 Sam LaPorta 7
Trey McBride 4 T.J. Hockenson 12 George Kittle 10 Travis Kelce 5
T.J. Hockenson 3 Travis Kelce 11 Travis Kelce 9 David Njoku 5
Travis Kelce 3 Sam LaPorta 10 Evan Engram 9 Jake Ferguson 5
Evan Engram 3 David Njoku 9 David Njoku 8 Dalton Schultz 5
Sam LaPorta 3 Cole Kmet 9 Sam LaPorta 8 Hunter Henry 5
Mark Andrews 2 Dalton Kincaid 9 Trey McBride 6
David Njoku 2 Trey McBride 8 Dalton Schultz 6
Cole Kmet 2 Jake Ferguson 7 Dalton Kincaid 6
Dallas Goedert 7 Tyler Conklin 6

A twenty-point game is a monster performance for this position and while George Kittle rated only No. 7 and Trey McBride No. 11 in ten point games, they were the only tight ends with four 20-point performances.  For McBride, the second-rounder from 2023 is only getting started in his career. Fellow rookie Sam LaPorta was even better, logging seven games with a touchdown when no other tight end had more than five.

All 10 times the Jaguars have used the franchise tag

The Jaguars appear set to use the franchise tag for a fifth straight offseason.

As of Tuesday, NFL teams are allowed to use the franchise tag or transition tag to retain one player due to become a free agent. And for the fifth straight year, the Jacksonville Jaguars are likely to make use of the tag.

The likeliest scenario is that pass rusher Josh Allen will get the tag after posting a career-best 17.5 sacks during the 2023 season. But even if the Jaguars manage to get a deal done with Allen ahead of the March 5 deadline (which seems unlikely), they’d probably instead use the tag to keep wide receiver Calvin Ridley.

The franchise tag is a tool that guarantees a player, at minimum, a one-year fully guaranteed deal that makes them one of the highest paid players at their position. Teams also have until mid-July to sign a multi-year extension with a tagged player.

While Jacksonville has used it in four straight offseasons, the team only used it six times in the more than two decades prior. Here’s the Jaguars’ entire history of using the franchise tag:

Evan Engram says Josh Allen ‘has to be back’ with Jaguars

Evan Engram says the Jaguars have to do what it takes to keep Josh Allen.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will undoubtedly make roster changes during the 2024 offseason after a tailspin at the end of 2023 cost them a spot in the playoffs. But one move that isn’t an option, according to tight end Evan Engram, is the team splitting with pass rusher Josh Allen.

“He has to be back. He has to be,” Engram told reporters at the 2024 Pro Bowl Games, via 1010XL. “He’s been in a staple in [Jacksonville] since he got there. The year he just had, you can’t let that go. You can’t let that go. I think he’s in a good spot. I know we want him back, I know upstairs wants him back. I told him just be patient and everything he’s ever wanted will come to him.”

Allen, 26, is set to become a free agent next month, but Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke has guaranteed that won’t come to fruition. Given the sluggish start to negotiations between the pass rusher and the team, the likely scenario is that Allen receives the franchise tag from the Jaguars.

If any player could relate to the situation, it’s Engram.

The veteran tight end signed a one-year deal with the Jaguars in 2022, but after his first season with the team Baalke told reporters Engram “will be on this football team” in 2023. Engram was then franchised by Jacksonville and, finally, signed a three-year, $42.5 million deal with the team in July.

While Engram later said he “never doubted” that the Jaguars valued him and wanted to keep him, he also said “it was a roller coaster” ride of an offseason.

The 2024 offseason could be a roller coaster ride for Allen too. But like Engram said, there’s no way the Jaguars can afford to let the pass rusher walk.

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Every Jaguars highlight from the 2024 Pro Bowl Games

If you missed Josh Allen, Evan Engram, and Ross Matiscik at the Pro Bowl, we’ve got you covered.

The Jacksonville Jaguars had three players participating in the 2024 Pro Bowl Games this year: pass rusher Josh Allen, tight end Evan Engram, and long snapper Ross Matiscik.

Unlike previous years, the weekend of festivities for the NFL’s all-star selections didn’t end with an actual football game.

Instead, the NFL recently replaced the game with a series of skills competitions and events culminating in a flag football game to determine the winning conference.

That meant a dizzying few days of mini-games and highlights involving Allen, Engram, and Matiscik. If you couldn’t keep up with all the Pro Bowl action in Orlando, Fla., have no fear. We’ll get you all caught up on all the Jaguars highlights from the 2024 Pro Bowl Games:

Top 15 plays of the Jaguars’ 2023 season

The Jaguars didn’t end up in the playoffs like they hoped, but they still made several impressive plays en route to a winning record.

The Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t end up in the playoffs as fans hoped and most expected.

Instead of defending their AFC South title from the season prior, the team lost five of its last six to stumble to a 9-8 finish. That wasn’t enough to beat out the Houston Texans for the division crown and didn’t earn them a wild card berth either.

While the ho-hum ending to the year left a sour taste, Jacksonville’s talented roster still turned out a few impressive plays en route to a winning record in the 2023 season.

Here are the Jaguars’ top 15 plays of the season: