Evan Engram’s Departure Creates Opportunity for Jacksonville Jaguars

When tight end Evan Engram signed a four-year, $84 million contract with the Chicago Bears in March 2025, the Jacksonville Jaguars faced a significant void—losing a player who had been Trevor Lawrence’s most reliable pass-catcher over the previous two seasons (143 receptions, 1,563 yards, 10 touchdowns). But Evan Engram’s Departure Creates Opportunity for Jacksonville Jaguars frames this loss not as a setback, but as a chance to reshape the tight end room, elevate young talent, and add versatility to an offense already stacked with playmakers like Travis Etienne Jr. and Calvin Ridley. Engram’s exit opens snaps, targets, and red-zone opportunities for a group of unproven but promising tight ends, including second-year player Brenton Strange and rookie fifth-round pick Luke Musgrave. For a Jaguars team aiming to balance short-term playoff success with long-term roster sustainability, this transition allows them to develop homegrown talent while avoiding the cap strain of a top-tier tight end contract. Evan Engram’s Departure Creates Opportunity for Jacksonville Jaguars also reflects Doug Pederson’s ability to adapt his offense to different personnel—a skill that has made the Jaguars one of the NFL’s most dynamic scoring units. This article explores the players stepping up, the scheme adjustments, and how Engram’s departure could ultimately strengthen the Jaguars’ offense.

Evan Engram’s Departure Creates Opportunity for Jacksonville Jaguars began with a clear focus on internal development during the 2025 off-season. Brenton Strange, a second-round pick in 2024 who played 35% of the Jaguars’ offensive snaps as a rookie, immediately emerged as the front-runner to replace Engram. After a first year spent learning the ropes (22 receptions, 213 yards, 1 touchdown), Strange arrived at minicamp with a refined skill set: he added 15 pounds of muscle to improve his blocking (a weakness in his rookie season) and worked with Lawrence to refine their timing on short and intermediate routes. The results were evident early: during the first week of training camp, Strange caught 8 passes for 95 yards in a scrimmage, including a 20-yard touchdown where he outmuscled linebacker Foyesade Oluokun in the end zone. Rookie Luke Musgrave, meanwhile, brought a different skill set—at 6’6”, 255 pounds, he’s a vertical threat who excels at winning one-on-one matchups downfield. Musgrave, the younger brother of Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Musgrave, impressed coaches with his route-running precision and hands, hauling in 7 catches for 110 yards in the Jaguars’ first preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “We knew losing Evan would be tough, but we also knew we had guys ready to step up,” Pederson said in a post-practice interview. “Brenton has grown leaps and bounds since last year, and Luke has been a pleasant surprise. This competition is making our tight end room better, and that’s exactly what we wanted.”

Evan Engram’s Departure Creates Opportunity for Jacksonville Jaguars also highlights the Jaguars’ shift toward a “committee approach” at tight end—using multiple players with distinct skills to replace Engram’s all-around production. Unlike Engram, who handled 70% of the tight end snaps and lined up everywhere from in-line to the slot, the Jaguars are now splitting reps based on situation: Strange takes most in-line snaps (using his improved blocking to open holes for Etienne), Musgrave lines up in the slot or out wide (leveraging his size to beat cornerbacks and safeties), and veteran free-agent signing Nick Vannett handles short-yardage blocking and check-down duties. This approach was on full display during the Jaguars’ preseason win over the Miami Dolphins: Strange blocked for Etienne’s 15-yard rushing touchdown, Musgrave caught a 25-yard pass over the middle to set up a field goal, and Vannett sealed the edge on a fourth-and-1 conversion. “The committee works because each guy brings something unique,” offensive coordinator Press Taylor explained. “We don’t need one player to do everything Evan did—we need three players to each do what they do best. That makes our offense harder to game-plan against, because defenses can’t key on one tight end.” The approach also reduces wear on individual players, ensuring the tight end room stays healthy during a long season—a contrast to 2024, when Engram missed two games with a knee injury and the Jaguars’ offense struggled without him.

Evan Engram’s Departure Creates Opportunity for Jacksonville Jaguars underscores the Jacksonville Jaguars’ focus on cap flexibility—a critical factor in their ability to retain core players and add depth elsewhere. Engram’s \(21 million annual salary would have occupied 12% of the Jaguars’ 2025 salary cap, limiting their ability to re-sign key defenders like Josh Allen and Andre Cisco. By letting Engram depart and replacing him with a combination of cheaper internal options (Strange is on a rookie contract paying \)1.2 million annually) and a modest free-agent signing (Vannett’s one-year deal is worth \(3 million), the Jaguars freed up over \)16 million in cap space. They used that money to extend Allen (four years, \(108 million) and sign defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton to a three-year, \)45 million contract—strengthening a defense that ranked 12th in total yards allowed in 2024. “Cap flexibility is about prioritizing what’s best for the entire team, not just one position,” general manager Trent Baalke said. “Losing Evan was hard, but it let us invest in our defense and keep the core of our team together. That’s a trade-off that will pay off in the long run.” The Jacksonville Jaguars’ focus on cap flexibility also leaves room for future extensions, including a potential long-term deal for Lawrence, whose rookie contract expires after the 2025 season. By avoiding a large tight end contract now, the Jaguars ensure they can keep their franchise quarterback for years to come.

Evan Engram’s Departure Creates Opportunity for Jacksonville Jaguars also highlights the Jacksonville Jaguars’ commitment to diversifying their passing attack—reducing their reliance on one player and making the offense more unpredictable. In 2024, Engram accounted for 28% of Lawrence’s completions and 22% of the team’s receiving yards, making him a focal point of opposing defenses’ game plans. This season, with the tight end targets split between Strange, Musgrave, and Vannett, Lawrence is distributing the ball more evenly: through three preseason games, Ridley (24% of targets), Etienne (21%), and wide receiver Zay Jones (18%) have all seen increased looks, while the tight end group combined for 22% of targets—similar to Engram’s individual share but spread across multiple players. “Diversifying the attack makes us harder to stop,” Lawrence said after a preseason win over the Atlanta Falcons. “When defenses don’t know who’s going to get the ball, they can’t double-team one player. That opens up opportunities for everyone—whether it’s Calvin downfield, Travis out of the backfield, or Brenton in the red zone.” The Jacksonville Jaguars’ commitment to diversifying their passing attack was evident in their preseason finale, where Lawrence completed passes to 10 different receivers, including three tight ends, and the offense scored touchdowns on five of six possessions. This balance will be critical against top defenses like the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns, who specialize in shutting down primary targets.

Evan Engram’s Departure Creates Opportunity for Jacksonville Jaguars concludes with the Jacksonville Jaguars’ goal of turning transition into strength—using Engram’s exit to build a deeper, more versatile offense that can sustain success for years. While Engram was a key player, his departure has forced the Jaguars to develop young talent, adapt their scheme, and prioritize cap health—all steps that position them for long-term contention. Strange, Musgrave, and Vannett have each carved out distinct roles, and the offense has shown it can thrive without a single dominant tight end. “Transitions are never easy, but they often bring out the best in a team,” Pederson said as the regular season approached. “We’ve turned a loss into an opportunity to grow, and that’s going to make us stronger in the end.” The Jacksonville Jaguars’ goal of turning transition into strength is shared by the entire team, from Lawrence to the rookies. Strange, who spent hours studying Engram’s film to learn his nuances, summed it up best: “I don’t want to replace Evan—I want to build on what he started and create my own legacy here. This opportunity means everything to me, and I’m not going to waste it.” Evan Engram’s Departure Creates Opportunity for Jacksonville Jaguars isn’t just a story about a player leaving; it’s a testament to the Jaguars’ resilience, adaptability, and focus on building a team that can compete for Super Bowls now and in the future. As the regular season begins, all eyes will be on the tight end room—waiting to see if this group of unproven players can turn opportunity into success and help lead the Jaguars to their first championship.