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.
Brenton Strange will be a top 5 TE this year !
— Arik Armstead (@arikarmstead) May 29, 2025
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 touchdowns. Three straight seasons over 100 yards receiving.
Notes:
So now we are on to the “other” tight ends on this roster. Mundt has been in the NFL since 2018 and only has 65 catches to his name. That said, his role with this team is easy. He needs to help the line and block for Lawrence. Mundt is not a fancy free agent pickup from Minnesota, but he has a lot of tools that make him a typical Gladstone guy. Alongside Strange, these two make for a formidable pair in the blocking game and both give you enough as receiving weapons to keep defenses honest.
Hunter Long
Contract: First year of a two-year, $5,000,000 deal.
Age: 26 (27 in August).
Games Played: 37 with LA and Miami.
Stats: Eight career catches.
Notes:
Here is another case of Gladstone getting a non-flashy name to fill some gaps in the roster. Long is going to be a blocker first and foremost, given his big 6’4”, almost 250-pound frame. At one point, Long was the 81st pick in the NFL Draft. He had big pass-catching years at Boston College to set that up, so maybe pairing up with his old friend Coen can unlock what the Miami Dolphins saw in 2021.
Jaguars TE Hunter Long says his connection with head coach Liam Coen goes way back Coen first tried to recruit him to play at Maine when Long was still in high school. pic.twitter.com/vkLGJmEryV
— Jamal St. Cyr (@JStCyrTV) June 5, 2025
Quintin Morris
Contract: First year of a one-year, $1,150,000 deal.
Age: 26 (27 in January).
Games Played: 45 in three years with Buffalo.
Stats: 15 career catches and three touchdowns.
Notes:
Despite being last on the list, Morris has as big a claim to playing for this Jags team as anyone. He fits the Gladstone tight end archetype of being a mauler in the blocking game and being a solid enough option as a leakout threat in the passing attack. The Jags moved on from Engram to favor a more blocking-based room, and Morris is yet another sign of that. All four of these names may not be flashy, but Jags with the last names Etienne, Bigsby, Lawrence, Hunter, Brown and Thomas should be pretty happy with how this room shaped up in the end.
A little spotlight love for #Bills TE Quintin Morris. Earned a roster spot over OJ Howard and made some splash plays this past year.
Here's to seeing more of #85 this year and Ken Dorsey making proper use of this brother! pic.twitter.com/HKbhuy4Bdz
— ️Rico ️ (@Rico_BF_) March 5, 2023
What are your thoughts on the TE unit entering 2025? Let us know in the comments below!