NFL Rumors: Jaguars 'Hopeful' Evan Engram Will Sign Long-Term Contract amid OTAs

The Jacksonville Jaguars placed the franchise tag on tight end Evan Engram this offseason, but the team is hoping for more, especially since he is yet to sign it.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler appeared on SportsCenter and discussed Engram and how he fits in with the overall optimism surrounding the offense:

"Calvin Ridley, a new face in OTAs. He's been heavily involved in their workouts so far, and I was told from somebody with the team that he looks 'as advertised.' Last time he was on the field for Atlanta he was a fringe top-10 wide receiver in the league. So, Jacksonville is ecstatic about what they have with their offense around Trevor Lawrence. They also hope to have Evan Engram back. He's not signed his franchise tag, but they've been negotiating with the player. They are hopeful to get a long-term deal done with the tight end to pair with Ridley."

Signing Engram to a long-term deal would continue the momentum that is working in Jacksonville's favor.

The team has its franchise quarterback in place in the 23-year-old Lawrence and has no shortage of offensive weapons around him in Ridley, Zay Jones, Christian Kirk and Travis Etienne Jr. Even without Ridley, that group turned heads last season when it completed a dramatic comeback from 27 points down in a playoff win against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Jacksonville also lost by just seven to the eventual-champion Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

If Ridley can return to the form he demonstrated when he posted 90 catches for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns in 2020 on the Atlanta Falcons, opposing defenses will have to pick their poison with how they match up against a loaded Jaguars side.

Engram would be perfectly positioned to take advantage of that by exploiting space in the middle of the field and on underneath routes when secondaries are worried about Ridley, Kirk and Jones.

He is coming off arguably the best season of his career with 73 catches for 766 yards and four touchdowns and could take another jump with more continuity under his belt in what will be his second year catching passes from Lawrence in Jacksonville.

First, the team and the tight end have to come to an agreement on his contract status.

But it seems like the Jaguars are motivated to make sure he remains in the fold for years to come as they look to build a consistent contender in the AFC.