{"id":872620,"date":"2026-04-23T09:31:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T09:31:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/872620\/"},"modified":"2026-04-23T09:31:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T09:31:19","slug":"jaguars-need-to-select-tight-end-in-third-round-to-boost-offense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/872620\/","title":{"rendered":"Jaguars need to select tight end in third round to boost offense"},"content":{"rendered":"

In his role as head coach, Liam Coen must take a world view of this weekend\u2019s NFL Draft. He knows the Jacksonville Jaguars<\/a> need to add defensive line help and outside linebacker competition.<\/p>\n

But on April 24, during a third round in which the Jaguars<\/a> have three picks (Nos. 81, 88 and 100)<\/a>, the offensive play-caller in Coen should turn to general manager James Gladstone and say, \u201cIt\u2019s time to give me another weapon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

The Jaguars\u2019 initial offensive selection should be a tight end. A tight end who can complement Brenton Strange<\/a> and allow Coen to move away from using a sixth offensive linemen in \u201cheavy\u201d personnel.<\/p>\n

And this may be the draft to address it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a number of tight ends throughout the draft,\u201d Baltimore Ravens<\/a> general manager Eric DeCosta told reporters. \u201cAs you get into the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds, we see guys that do something well.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen speaks during a press conference at the Miller Electric Center, Monday, April 20, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla.<\/p>\n

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Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen speaks during a press conference at the Miller Electric Center, Monday, April 20, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla.<\/p>\n

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Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen speaks during a press conference at the Miller Electric Center, Monday, April 20, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla.<\/p>\n

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Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen speaks during a press conference at the Miller Electric Center, Monday, April 20, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla.<\/p>\n

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Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen speaks during a press conference at the Miller Electric Center, Monday, April 20, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla.<\/p>\n

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Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen speaks during a press conference at the Miller Electric Center, Monday, April 20, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla.<\/p>\n

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The shoes are shown of Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen as he speaks during a press conference at the Miller Electric Center, Monday, April 20, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla.<\/p>\n

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Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen speaks during a press conference at the Miller Electric Center, Monday, April 20, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla.<\/p>\n

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Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen speaks during a press conference at the Miller Electric Center, Monday, April 20, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla.<\/p>\n

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Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen speaks during a press conference at the Miller Electric Center, Monday, April 20, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla.<\/p>\n

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Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen speaks during a press conference at the Miller Electric Center, Monday, April 20, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla.<\/p>\n

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Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen speaks during a press conference at the Miller Electric Center, Monday, April 20, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla.<\/p>\n

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Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen speaks during a press conference at the Miller Electric Center, Monday, April 20, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla.<\/p>\n

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Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen speaks during a press conference at the Miller Electric Center, Monday, April 20, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla.<\/p>\n

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Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen speaks during a press conference at the Miller Electric Center, Monday, April 20, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla.<\/p>\n

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Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen speaks during a press conference at the Miller Electric Center, Monday, April 20, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla.<\/p>\n

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Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen speaks during a press conference at the Miller Electric Center, Monday, April 20, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla.<\/p>\n

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Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen speaks during a press conference at the Miller Electric Center, Monday, April 20, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla.<\/p>\n

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Said Denver Broncos<\/a> coach Sean Payton:\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll say this about this class: If you\u2019re looking for a blocking \u2018Y,\u2019 there\u2019s a handful available. If you\u2019re looking for a \u2018move\u2019 \u2014 a little bit of an undersized \u2018F\u2019 \u2014 they\u2019re out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

If the Jaguars prefer a catch-first tight end, several could be on the board in round 3. Ditto if they prefer a grinding-type who can lock horns with defensive ends.<\/p>\n

The Jaguars enter the weekend with four tight ends under contract: Strange, Quintin Morris<\/a>, Hunter Long<\/a> and Patrick Herbert. Help is required.<\/p>\n

How Jaguars used Strange<\/p>\n

The \u201cF\u201d tight end is a player with the athleticism to be moved around the formation and excel as a pass-catcher. The \u201cY\u201d tight end lines up next to the offensive tackle and can block. Ideally, a tight end can do some of both.<\/p>\n

The Jaguars believe they have a long-term building block in Strange, a player with traits of an \u201cF\u201d and \u201cY.\u201d<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

The Times-Union charted Strange\u2019s 48 catches in 2025 in 13 games (including playoffs); a hip injury cost him five games. The data showed why the Jaguars should want to add a tight end who can play in all situations.<\/p>\n

On 33 of Strange\u2019s catches, the Jaguars used \u201c11\u201d personnel (1RB-1TE-3WR), followed by 12 catches in \u201c12\u201d (1RB-2TE-2WR) and two catches in \u201c13\u201d (1RB-1WR-3TE). The Jaguars simply couldn’t prioritize big personnel with three true tight ends.<\/p>\n

Strange lined up all over the formation, led by 15 apiece at right and left tight end, but also five at the right slot and even three in the backfield and one apiece lined up wide right and left. Only six of his catches came from a three-point stance start.<\/p>\n

Adding a tight end would diversify their personnel usage.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

In the last year\u2019s final five games, they used \u201c12\u201d on 69 snaps, according to the Times-Union\u2019s charting, but no traditional \u201c13\u201d personnel. Coen was often forced to use a sixth lineman in heavy groupings. The rub is obvious: That player is an eligible receiver in name only \u2014 he wasn\u2019t going to run any routes. It was good for pass protection and run-blocking, but not for stressing a defense\u2019s coverage plan.<\/p>\n

The Los Angeles Rams rolled out \u201c13\u201d personnel in their win over the Jaguars<\/a> last year. If a team has three true tight ends on the field, a defense faces a dilemma: Play their base package to stop the run, which makes them susceptible to the pass? Or play their sub package to cover the tight ends, which makes them susceptible to the run?<\/p>\n

\u201cMan, (Rams coach) Sean (McVay) started something,\u201d said Coen, who had two tours on the Rams\u2019 staff<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s making the league look at how we are playing the personnel. I think it\u2019s going to force defenses to have more base calls.\u201d<\/p>\n

The name of offensive football is creating advantageous match-ups. Get Strange against a linebacker? Edge to the Jaguars. Force a defense to play five defensive backs against a three-tight end package? Edge to the Jaguars\u2019 running backs.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

The way the Jaguars deploy Strange is similar to many teams because we are in a terrific era of tight end play.<\/p>\n

Last year, 12 of the top 50 pass-catchers (receptions) were tight ends, the most in at least a decade (only six tight ends were in the top 50 in 2021).<\/p>\n

In the top 25 of 2025 were Arizona<\/a>\u2019s Trey McBride<\/a> (126 catches, second-most), Atlanta<\/a>\u2019s Kyle Pitts<\/a> (88, 10th), Houston<\/a>\u2019s Dalton Schultz<\/a> and Dallas<\/a>\u2019 Jake Ferguson<\/a> (82 apiece, tied 14th), New Orleans<\/a>\u2019 Juwan Johnson<\/a> (77, tied 21st) and Kansas City<\/a>\u2019s Travis Kelce<\/a> and Indianapolis<\/a>\u2019 Tyler Warren<\/a> (76, tied 24th).<\/p>\n

More from O’Halloran: Jacksonville Jaguars’ 56th pick has a rich NFL Draft trade history<\/a><\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

Not included in the top 50 were Strange, who played at a 65-catch pace and San Francisco<\/a>\u2019s George Kittle<\/a>, who played at an 88-catch pace, but was limited to 11 games.<\/p>\n

The third round or even the fourth round could become a sweet spot for the Jaguars to draft a tight end. Among the top 12 tight ends in catches last year, Kelce and Cleveland<\/a>\u2019s Harold Fannin were third-round picks and Schultz, Ferguson and Tampa Bay\u2019s Cade Otton<\/a> were fourth-round selections.<\/p>\n

Potential third-round options<\/p>\n

Evaluating college tight ends can be a necessary fool\u2019s errand.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all receiving (tape),\u201d Jaguars tight ends coach Richard Angulo told me in January. \u201cThe first thing we look at is the physicality and a lot of guys don\u2019t naturally have it. Strange is a naturally physical guy, but some guys, you have to push and force it. When it comes to the college landscape, it is more finesse, pass-catching and stats.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Does Angulo have to literally start with stance and the first step with some tight ends?<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, 100%,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s the same as coaching in high school. And that\u2019s not say because college tight ends have gone downhill because that\u2019s for truly every position. But if you approach it that way, there is no guessing. It\u2019s Step 0 and moving your way up and doing it the way we want you to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coen agrees, calling evaluating college tight ends a \u201ctough one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat \u2018Y\u2019 (also) has enough athletic movements and hands and ball skills and feel to be able to run the route tree?\u201d Coen said. \u201cAnd then can the \u2018F\u2019 can (also) block linebackers and safeties at the second level? There\u2019s a little bit of projecting.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Four potential options for the Jaguars in the range of No. 81-100 are Ohio State\u2019s Max Klare, N.C. State\u2019s Justin Joly, Stanford\u2019s Sam Roush and Texas A&M\u2019s Nate Boerkircher.<\/p>\n

Klare (246 pounds) had 116 catches in his final three years, Joly (241) had 166 catches in four seasons and lived in the slot, Roush (267) is a classic \u201cY\u201d player but had 119 catches in four seasons and Boerkircher (245)\u00a0 had only 38 catches in six seasons.<\/p>\n

Can Klare, Joly and Boerkircher block well enough? Can Roush show route-running ability to win against lighter players? The projecting exercise has been on overdrive during the pre-draft process. If the Jaguars find the right tight end, even if initially playing a supporting role, their offense will reach new heights.<\/p>\n

Contact O\u2019Halloran at rohalloran@gannett.com<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars should draft a tight end in the third round of the NFL Draft<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In his role as head coach, Liam Coen must take a world view of this weekend\u2019s NFL Draft.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":872621,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2060],"tags":[375,223,117,5929,9341,85,229,1718,258,7,6066,221,5421,2004,212,125,2401,213,588,6839,118,6153,1642,896,6,17026,1161,1813,3865,500,6042,589],"class_list":{"0":"post-872620","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-jacksonville-jaguars","8":"tag-arizona","9":"tag-atlanta","10":"tag-baltimore-ravens","11":"tag-brenton-strange","12":"tag-cade-otton","13":"tag-cleveland","14":"tag-dallas","15":"tag-dalton-schultz","16":"tag-denver-broncos","17":"tag-football","18":"tag-george-kittle","19":"tag-houston","20":"tag-hunter-long","21":"tag-indianapolis","22":"tag-jacksonville","23":"tag-jacksonville-jaguars","24":"tag-jacksonvillejaguars","25":"tag-jaguars","26":"tag-jake-ferguson","27":"tag-juwan-johnson","28":"tag-kansas-city","29":"tag-kyle-pitts","30":"tag-liam-coen","31":"tag-new-orleans","32":"tag-nfl","33":"tag-quintin-morris","34":"tag-san-francisco","35":"tag-sean-payton","36":"tag-tight-end","37":"tag-travis-kelce","38":"tag-trey-mcbride","39":"tag-tyler-warren"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116453334107744077","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/872620","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=872620"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/872620\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/872621"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=872620"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=872620"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=872620"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}