Jaguars Release Pro Bowl Tight End Evan Engram Amid Cap Crunch

In a bold move to tackle their cap issues, the Jacksonville Jaguars have released Pro Bowl tight end Evan Engram, according to multiple reports. The decision comes as part of a larger effort to free up salary cap space under new General Manager James Gladstone, who has wasted no time implementing his strategy since his February 21 appointment.

Earlier in the day, the Jaguars traded veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk to the Houston Texans for a 2026 seventh-round draft pick, a move that shaved just over $10 million off their books. Kirk, who carried the team’s largest cap hit at $24.1 million, had become expendable with Jacksonville’s relatively deep wide receiver corps, including Brian Thomas Jr., Gabe Davis, and Parker Washington.

Engram represented the team’s second-largest cap hit for 2025 at $19.49 million. Releasing him will save the Jaguars just under $6 million, though they will absorb $13.5 million in dead cap money. It's a tough pill to swallow financially, but Gladstone seems determined to carve out room for potential free-agent acquisitions and the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft class.

Engram’s release is particularly surprising given his standout 2023 season, where he earned his second Pro Bowl nod with 114 receptions for 963 yards and four touchdowns. However, injuries plagued his 2024 campaign—he tore a labrum requiring surgery in December and missed four games early in the season due to a hamstring issue. He ended the year with a modest 47 receptions for 365 yards and one touchdown, far from his previous form.

Originally a first-round pick by the New York Giants in 2017, the 30-year-old tight end has experienced an up-and-down career marked by flashes of brilliance and bouts of inconsistency. Now a free agent, Engram will be looking for a tight end-needy team to call home—rumors suggest the Los Angeles Chargers, Chicago Bears, and Denver Broncos are potential destinations.

For the Jaguars, the depth chart at tight end now features Brenton Strange, Shawn Bowman, and Patrick Murtagh heading into next season. While none of them bring Engram’s star power, the team seems committed to a more financially sustainable roster strategy.

With Gladstone at the helm, it’s clear that Jacksonville is embracing some tough but necessary choices. Whether these moves pay off in terms of long-term success remains to be seen, but fans can expect a very different-looking Jaguars team in 2025.