Heading into the 2023 NFL Draft, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke talked to reporters on Thursday and touched on several topics.

One of which had little to do with the actual draft but involved one of the team's most important weapons on offense: Tight end Evan Engram.

Engram, who was franchise tagged by the Jaguars earlier in the year, was a no-show to begin the team's voluntary workouts at the beginning of the week. Both sides are hopeful they can reach a contract extension before the mid-July deadline to do so.

"You know, the goal is to get this thing done," Baalke told reporters on Thursday when asked about Engram's potential extension. "These negotiations are always you know, there's ups and downs as he goes through the process and you're just trying to come to a common goal here is to get him signed."

Although unsurprising, it's one of the strongest statements the Jaguars' front office has made on the Evan Engram front so far. And one that QB Trevor Lawrence and HC Doug Pederson will likely love hearing.

After spending big amounts of money over the last couple of years, the Jacksonville brass has to be careful about how they pick their spots moving forward.

"We're trending in the right direction but we're not there yet," added Baalke.

Now, a contract extension for the tight end is easier said than done. Making things even more interesting is this year's particular draft class. It's widely known this is a big year for tight end prospects with at least two tight ends expected to be selected in the first round; Utah's Dalton Kincaid and Notre Dame's Michael Mayer. 

"We don't feel that it's an absolute necessity to add to (the tight end) room but if there's an opportunity to add to it we will," said Baalke about the draft. 

This year's strong TE class is a big reason why free agents at the position underperformed. Productive players like Dalton Schultz, Hayden Hurst, and Mike Gesicki all signed for less money than originally expected. 

But even on Day 2 or Day 3, the Jaguars could add a solid tight end to complement the offense and be a potential replacement for Engram down the road. And yet, there's a significant risk to that approach. 

Engram, on the other hand, has proven himself. Last year, he was a critical piece of Doug Pederson's offense and a huge reason why the Jaguars boasted the sixth-best passing offense per DVOA. 

And speaking of Pederson, he knows very well how important the position is at this level, even calling the tight end a quarterback's best friend.

"I've always been – whether I was a player or coach – we've always had really, really good tight ends," the Jaguars head coach told reporters. "The tight end becomes a really important piece. I mean, it comes almost like your best friend, right?"

Such a philosophy suggests the coach would love to keep the veteran presence around beyond next season. For 2023, Lawrence has his best buddy secured. But the next few months will define the long-term outlook at the position. 

One thing seems clear to me, however: Thanks to a premium quarterback and a loaded TE class, the Jaguars are in a position that should keep them from overpaying for Engram.