Jaguars' Evan Engram Expected at Training Camp Amidst Contract Negotiations

With or without a long term deal, the Jaguars tight end will be a part of mandatory team activities.

With the deadline rapidly approaching to ink franchise tag recipient Evan Engram to a contract extension, the two sides still haven’t reached an agreement. Despite uncertainty on whether Engram is playing on the tag or a long-term pact, his status at Jaguars training camp is of little doubt.

NFL Network’s Mike Garofolo made clear yesterday that Engram intends to be a full participant at Jaguars training camp when it opens on July 24th.

From @NFLTotalAccess ahead of Mon’s deadline for franchise tagged players to do long-term deals:
—#Giants, Saquon Barkley have work to do
—#Raiders, Josh Jacobs aren’t close
—#Jaguars, TE Evan Engram will talk but sounds like Engram will be at camp even if no deal pic.twitter.com/eb4JfD6Dhe

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 15, 2023

“I’d say it’s probably a little less than 50-50 that something gets done between the Jaguars and Engram based on the conversations I have had,” Garofolo said yesterday on NFL Total Access. “But here’s the difference between him and the two running backs we just discussed [Giants running back Saquon Barkey and Raiders running back Josh Jacobs we just talked about. Indications are that Engram would be at training camp without a long term deal and would sign that tag and be there for the start of Jaguars camp.”

Engram had an excellent first season with the Jags in 2022. The 28-year-old recorded career highs in receptions (73), receiving yards (766), and the second highest touchdown total of his career (4). Engram not only finished fourth among all tight ends in receiving yards, but he set a franchise record for receptions and receiving yards by a tight end in a single season.

As the two sides continue to seek out a long-term deal, the possibility of playing on the franchise tag becomes more likely for the veteran tight end. Should that be the case, it would be a one-year pact for $11.345 million.

Teams and franchise players can sign multi-year extensions until July 17 (the typical deadline is July 15 unless on a weekend; because July 15 is on a Saturday this year, the deadline is the following Monday).