**Jaguars Make Cost-Cutting Moves, Release Pro Bowl Tight End Evan Engram**
The Jacksonville Jaguars focused on reducing expenses on Thursday, resulting in the release of Pro Bowl tight end Evan Engram, as reported by multiple sources. Earlier in the day, veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk, who was already set to be released, was traded to the Houston Texans for a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, according to The Athletic. Kirk had the highest cap hit on the team at $24.1 million, and his departure will save the Jaguars just over $10 million, as noted by Over The Cap.
Engram was the second-largest cap hit for Jacksonville in the 2025 season, with a figure of $19.49 million. By letting him go, the Jaguars will incur $13.5 million in dead cap but will save nearly $6 million. New general manager James Gladstone, who took the helm on February 21, is implementing a strategy to create cap space for free agency while considering the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.
The decision to trade Kirk aligns with the Jaguars’ depth at wide receiver, featuring players like Brian Thomas Jr., Gabe Davis, and Parker Washington. Kirk, a seven-year veteran, has a history of injuries.
Despite a breakout season in 2023, where Engram recorded 114 receptions for 963 yards and four touchdowns, he faced challenges in 2024, including a torn labrum that required surgery in mid-December. He also missed several games due to a hamstring injury, finishing the season with 47 catches for 365 yards and one touchdown. Engram, a first-round pick by the New York Giants in 2017 from Ole Miss, had a mixed career over five seasons before joining the Jaguars.
Now a free agent, Engram will be looking for a team in need of a tight end, with potential interest from the Los Angeles Chargers, Chicago Bears, and Denver Broncos. Meanwhile, the Jaguars will move forward into the next season with Brenton Strange, Shawn Bowman, and Patrick Murtagh on their tight end depth chart.
