JACKSONVILLE – This was about getting better, and having options.
Liam Coen likes how the Jaguars addressed one of the NFL's notable offseason trends – tight end – during the recent 2026 NFL Draft, and the Jaguars' head coach discussed that topic this past weekend during the team's '26 rookie minicamp.
The idea was to strengthen a strength, which Coen says the Jaguars did.
"I think we got two really good ones," Coen said Saturday.
The Jaguars late last month selected two tight ends in the same draft for the first time in franchise history – Nate Boerkircher of Texas A&M in Round 2 and Tanner Koziol of Houston in Round 5. They were among 27 Jaguars rookies – 10 draft selections, 17 undrafted free agents – participating in minicamp.
All rookies begin working with Jaguars veterans Monday as the '26 offseason program continues at the Miller Electric Center.
"I'm super excited," Boerkircher said. "I'm just ready to go learn."
Boerkircher and Koziol give the Jaguars six tight ends, along with starter Brenton Strange, veteran Quintin Morris, veteran Hunter Long and first-year veteran Patrick Herbert. The Jaguars, like multiple NFL teams, addressed tight end in this year's draft to have the option of playing more multiple-tight end packages moving forward.
Coen said tight end was "definitely up there" in terms of his draft priorities.
"I was really excited about this draft class of tight ends," he said. "I think there were a lot of really good ones."
Coen, too, said he liked not only what Boerkircher and Koziol bring, "but also what it then allows the other guys to do, like what that allows Strange to do differently or more frequently, whether that's running or blocking or catching."
"The diversity of skill sets is important," Coen said. "They're different enough but also wired similarly. That's what is fun about it, it allows not only those guys to go help us in their own skill sets, but also maybe help other guys in their skill sets just by adding that depth and competition."