Big Cat Country
Get ready to watch a lot of blocking from this Jags tight end group.
So far in the annual state of the roster series, we have taken a look at the Jacksonville Jaguars' quarterbacks and running backs.
While many think the offensive line still needs help, let’s take a look at one of the other less eye-popping position groups on the team: tight ends.
No more Evan Engram in Duval County is about as sad as anything. His connection with Trevor Lawrence was palpable, but now it’s time for someone like Brenton Strange to take the reins.
Is this group going to change the game of football? Absolutely not. But starting with Strange, there are some positives in this position group that could allow this offense to really get going, especially when it comes to beating opponents off the line of scrimmage.
Brenton Strange
Contract: Third year of four-year, $6,114,333 rookie deal.
Age: 24 (25 in December).
Games Played: 31 over two seasons in Jacksonville.
Stats: 40 catches on 53 targets for 411 yards and two touchdowns last season (all career-highs).
Notes:
Brenton Strange may be one of the more fascinating players on the Jags roster. It’s probably not a hot take to say that he clearly has the skills to be a solid all-around tight end in the NFL. In his first year, he wasn’t asked to do much. In his sophomore season, he did a little bit of everything. Now was the team’s de facto TE1, it is time to see what Strange can consistently do. New offensive coordinator Grant Udinski recently praised Strange for his ability to be a leader, despite entering just his third NFL season:
“His work ethic is hopefully a leadership attribute that the guys can model and see what he does on a day-to-day basis,” Udinski said. ”From a leadership standpoint, and just from a player standpoint, you see a guy with a lot of potential to just continue to grow, whether it’s in the pass game or the run game. A guy with a lot of physical traits that can be that balanced tight end and do a lot of different things that this offense will ask him to do.”
That has to be a great sign for Strange’s development. If head coach Liam Coen plans to use the tight end like he did in Tampa (TE1 Cade Otton had 59 catches for 600 yards last year), then Strange could be looking for a solid pass-catching season. Thinking of him strictly as a receiver, he certainly will see favorable matchups with defenses likely favoring Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter. At the combine, general manager James Gladstone said Strange was due for a big year. And even Jags players themselves see big things in the former Penn State standout.
Johnny Mundt
Contract: First year of two-year, $5,550,000 deal.
Age: 30 (31 in November).
Games Played: 96 since being drafted in 2018 with Minnesota and Los Angeles.
Stats: 65 career catches, four total...
