Watch Out for Jacksonville’s Potential Elite Tight End in 2026
In the NFL, the most competitive offenses have some of the more elite tight ends in the league. Take the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, for example, with two future Hall of Fame tight ends in Travis Kelce and George Kittle. The Jacksonville Jaguars aren’t historically known for the position, besides the fan favorite in the tenured Marcedes Lewis. However, the Jaguars could have a future star in the versatile 25-year-old Brenton Strange. The tight end out of Penn State was drafted with the 61st selection in the 2023 NFL Draft and was expected to be a major piece to an offense led by quarterback Trevor Lawrence. However, injuries have derailed what was expected to be an immediate impact for Strange.
So far in three seasons with Jacksonville, the veteran has played 43 games with 91 receptions for 986 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He has primarily been a blocking tight end, finding ways to make gaps for the numerous running backs that the Jaguars have sent out there over the years. A quad injury limited him in 2025. When entering the season, he was expected to be a main weapon for Lawrence. Entering 2026, a healthy tight end could change a lot in the Jaguars offensive scheme. Former Clemson running back Travis Etienne Jr. signing with the New Orleans Saints was a major loss for head coach Liam Coen and offensive coordinator Grant Udinski. The Jaguars could turn to a pass-heavy offense in 2026, which would allow Strange to see some major targets.
Health is the main concern for the former Nittany Lion. As the first-string tight end, he has yet to start an entire season or at least 16 games. To take pressure off of wideouts like Jakobi Meyers and Travis Hunter, the team will expect Strange to pick up some of the slack. He had his most yards per reception in 2025 with 11.7, allowing himself to be open for big gains. The team will expect him to finally evolve into the playmaker that they drafted him to be. If his limited highlights prove anything, there will be more to come for the young athlete in Duval County.
