The Jacksonville Jaguars made quick work this offseason retaining several players, including cornerback Montaric Brown, running back DeeJay Dallas, defensive tackle Matt Dickerson, cornerback Keith Taylor and tight end Quintin Morris.
One of Jacksonville’s most overlooked re-signings this year is Morris. Though the veteran tight end is thought of as a special teams player, he showed prowess in the run game for the Jaguars in 2025 after being thought of as a receiving, move tight end during his time with the Buffalo Bills.
His presence in the tight ends room will pay dividends for the Jaguars moving forward, particularly after the team released Johnny Mundt.
Still, the team’s top tight end remains Brenton Strange, who enjoyed a breakout season under head coach Liam Coen last year.
Strange quickly asserted himself as one of the team’s most reliable pass catchers with 46 catches (60 targets), 540 yards and three scores in 12 games. He is also the team’s best blocking tight end, making him a well-balanced machine for the Coen offense.
But is it enough?
Why Jaguars must invest in tight end position this offseason
Last year, the Jaguars made bold moves at the tight end position, releasing standout TE Evan Engram, while signing journeymen in Mundt and Hunter Long.
Both players boasted familiarity within both Coen and offensive coordinator Grand Udinski’s offensive scheme and overall thought process. That knowledge helped other players on the team, especially quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
However, in the pass-game, the trio of tight ends behind Morris made little impact. Long, Morris and Mundt combined for 35 catches for 319 yards and three touchdowns. Long led the way with 20 catches for 153 yards and two scores. Morris posted six catches for 55 yards and a score, while Mundt caught just nine passes for 111 yards.
Moving forward, the Jaguars will need more production out of the group. Strange missed five games due to a hip injury, and remained the team’s most reliable tight end.
In his absence, Jaguars tight ends combined for just 11 catches and 121 yards.
Coen’s former team, the Los Angeles Rams, perhaps showcased a model last year that the Jaguars ought to follow. After injuries at the receiver position, the Rams showcased their tight ends early and often.
The quartet of tight ends, including Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen and Terrance Ferguson were the team’s third, fifth, sixth and seventh-highest targeted players in 2025.
They combined for 150 targets, 103 catches for 1,128 yards and 17 touchdowns. Another strength of the group, which was also a strength for Jacksonville last season, is their ability to block in the run game.
Jacksonville will likely add to the position this offseason. While the team may not be in position to select Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq or Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers, they could find themselves in a fine position in round three to take a shot at Georgia’s Oscar Delp or perhaps Notre Dame’s Eli Raridon.
While not often talked about, Jacksonville’s urgency to address one of the team’s least-proven groups should be high this year. With 11 selections in the upcoming draft, they should be able to fill those holes with ease.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky at Demetrius.
If you’re a subscriber, thank you. If not, please consider subscribing to support local journalism in Northeast Florida.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: What’s an underrated need for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2026?
Reporting by Demetrius Harvey, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
