The Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to a three-year extension worth up to $48 million with tight end Brenton Strange. The deal also comes with $25 million in guaranteed money.
Strange’s Development
Strange was initially drafted in the second round of the 2023 draft out of Penn State. However, he sat behind Evan Engram in his rookie season, bringing in a measly five catches for 35 yards despite playing in 14 games.
However, during his sophomore campaign, Engram only played in nine games while Strange played in all 17. Despite the Jaguars going 4-13, he had 40 catches, 411 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. That was enough to convince the coaching staff to hand him the reins going into the 2025 season.
Engram left in free agency after the 2024 season, setting the stage for Strange. He built great chemistry with quarterback Trevor Lawrence in Liam Coen’s offense. The tight end set career highs in catches (46), receiving yards (540), and touchdowns (three) despite the fact that he missed five games due to injury.
What makes his season even more impressive is the impact that he had on winning. In the 12 games that Strange was healthy, the Jaguars were 11-1 and averaged 30.1 points per game. When he missed time due to a hip injury, the Jaguars were 2-3, averaging only 22.6 points.
The Big Picture
The team has been defined by maintaining continuity, and this extension fits perfectly into that idea. On top of that, it makes sense to bring back the tight end that helped them go 13-4 last season en route to an AFC South title and rank 11th in total offense and 12th in passing offense.
Aside from Strange, five of the team’s top six pass catchers are under contract for 2026. The receiving corps features Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington as trusted targets in the short and intermediate game, with Brian Thomas Jr. as a potential boom player if he can stay healthy and rebuild his connection with Lawrence.
It’ll be interesting to see what the Jaguars look like on the offensive side of the ball next season. They have a lot of weapons available, but there are still some questions that need to be answered.
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