JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It took some time for Brenton Strange to be the featured tight end in the Jaguars’ offense. For a while, he was relegated into a situational role behind the incumbent Evan Engram. But when Engram went down with injury, Strange slotted right in and offered the Jaguars a new breed of tight end.
While Strange can certainly be an offensive weapon, leading the Jaguars in receiving three times last season despite missing five games, he offers the Jaguars so much more at the position. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the fifth best run-blocking tight end and the NFL’s very best at zone blocking in 2025.
Per Sports Info Solutions, he also had one of the lowest blown block rates in the league. With the presumed shift towards running heavier personals, the value of Brenton Strange only becomes more invaluable.
Prior to his injury, the Jaguars actually ran the ball fairly effectively, averaging 4.86 YPC. Over the next six weeks, that 4.86 YPC (7th in the NFL) fell to just 3.83 YPC (29th), over a yard less on average. Despite his return in Week 12, the run game still failed to return to what was shown early on in 2025.
Nonetheless, his presence was sorely missed. With Strange, the Jaguars were 11-1, scoring 30.1 points per game. Without him, they were just 2-3, scoring over a touchdown less on average (22.6 PPG).
Brian Thomas Jr, Parker Washington, and Jakobi Meyers get the publicity, but Strange was equally as important to the Jaguars passing attack and offense as a whole last season. And the Jaguars staff knows it, locking Strange down with a three-year, $48 million extension this offseason.
Speaking of those heavier personnel packages, that’s the exact reason the Jaguars went out and spent the 56th overall selection on the position, drafting Texas A&M’s Nate Boerkircher. Not too long after, general manager James Gladstone double dipped, selecting Houston’s Tanner Koziol.
With this trio, in addition to Quintin Morris, the Jaguars have the bodies to run the creative heavy personnel sets they so desire. Strange spoke about this very thing to Brent Martineau and Austen Lane of Action Sports Jax.
“It’s really fun. You get to have more opportunities and it’s a lot more on the plate. And that’s what we want as tight ends,” said Strange.
He later added, “It’s just an exciting feeling, honestly. Because, to have those guys, I’m going to open things up for them and they are going to open up things for me. An exciting opportunity.”
With two young guns in the room and fresh ink on a contract, Strange now is the leader in the clubhouse. He no longer is just expected to perform but to help these young players grow and learn as well.
“It’s important for me to be the best leader I can be, set the example for them as it was set for me. I feel like I do that through my actions,” said Strange All things are pointing towards a big year for both Brenton Strange and tight ends on the whole.
With two rookies behind him, Strange has a lot of responsibility this season as a player and, now, leader. It’s hard to predict he won’t meet or even exceed those expectations.
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