Former New York Giants’ TE Evan Engram lands in ideal fit with Jaguars

Evan Engram lands with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he’ll catch passes from quarterback Trevor Lawrence, as NFL free agency begins

Former New York Giants tight end Evan Engram will sign a one-year deal to join the Jacksonville Jaguars, which could be an ideal fit for his skill-set.

ESPN was first to report that Engram signed what amounts to a one-year prove-it contract with the Jaguars during the NFL’s legal tampering period on Monday afternoon.

Once the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, and Dallas Cowboys used the franchise tag on Mike Gesicki, David Njoku, and Dalton Schultz, Engram emerged as one of the more coveted tight ends on the market. 

Why Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars are an ideal fit for Evan Engram

Engram is uniquely positioned to begin next season as the NFL’s 12th highest-paid tight end in the league, with the opportunity to cash in on a long-term contract next season if he performs at a high level in his first season in Jacksonville.

With Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson calling the plays and Trevor Lawrence as his quarterback, there might not be a better situation for Engram.

Pederson has long coveted tight ends who are primarily pass-catchers and legitimate weapons over the middle of the field, such as Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert.

Goedert and Ertz combined for 529 receptions for 5,519 yards and 39 touchdowns during Pederson’s five seasons as the Philadelphia Eagles’ head coach.

Pairing a young quarterback with a playmaking tight end has been a recipe for success across the NFL in recent years, and it’s easy to see why the Jaguars are attempting to replicate it in Lawrence’s second season, with Engram.

Engram has evolved into more of a bigger-bodied slot receiver in recent seasons than a traditional in-line tight end, even though the Giants struggled mightily the past two seasons to effectively utilize him and the mismatches his athleticism creates.

Since being chosen by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Engram never quite lived up to his first-round billing, but caught 262 passes for 2,828 yards and 16 touchdowns in five seasons in East Rutherford.

The New York Giants previously released Kyle Rudolph in an effort to create cap space, and now have a significant need at tight end following Engram’s departure.