The Jacksonville Jaguars locked up one of their core offensive players Wednesday, agreeing to a new three-year contract extension with tight end Brenton Strange.
Strange's new deal is worth up to $48 million, with $25 million in guaranteed money, per multiple reports.
A versatile player who can line up all over the formation, Strange has a complete skill set that has allowed the Jaguars to deploy him a wide variety of ways. He's flashed the athleticism to challenge opposing defenses as a pass-catching weapon, both down the field and after the catch, and his blocking prowess allows the Jags to keep him on the field regardless of formation or positional alignment.
That kind of well-rounded player is extremely valuable in the modern NFL, as more and more teams continue to use multi-TE formations. While many teams are forced to field specialists who can handle blocking and receiving duties separately, Strange's well-rounded game allows Jacksonville to put him anywhere without sacrificing effectiveness in either department.
Perhaps most importantly, Strange has developed valuable chemistry with Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence, particularly when it's time to turn red-zone trips into end-zone scores:
After sparse usage in the passing game during his rookie season, Strange has just shy of 1,000 yards receiving and five touchdown catches over the past two years. A second-round pick out of Penn State in the 2023 NFL Draft, Strange has improved his production in each of his three seasons since entering the league.
Still just 25 years old, Strange is an impressive overall athlete with a high ceiling. Clearly, the Jags believe in him enough to reward him with a long-term investment, and head coach/play-caller Liam Coen has a clear plan for how he wants to make him a critical part of their offensive attack moving forward.
By the end of this contract, especially as other tight ends across the league continue to reset the top of that market, it won't be surprising if this deal looks like a bargain for Jacksonville.
For Strange, he gets a nice raise and a long-term commitment from his team, with the ability to hit free agency while still in his prime at just 28 years old. If he proves to be the player the Jags obviously believe he can be, he shouldn't have a problem cashing in again when that time comes.
