It's Brenton Strange's time to shine in Jacksonville.
Stuck behind Evan Engram on the tight end depth chart for two seasons, the 2023 second-rounder is now expected to be the guy for the Jaguars following Engram's offseason release.
"I'm definitely ready for it," Strange told senior team writer John Oehser on the O-Zone Podcast. "I have a lot of confidence in myself and I've always had a lot of confidence in myself. I feel like I'm always one of the best players on the field. I feel like that's the mentality I bring."
Strange had multiple extended cameos to put his skills on display last season due to Engram's injury troubles, and he made his presence known through 10 starts. He finished third on the team -- seven receptions behind Engram -- with 40 catches, while adding two touchdowns and trailing only rookie wideout Brian Thomas Jr. with 411 receiving yards in 17 games played.
Veterans tight ends behind him include Johnny Mundt, Hunter Long and Quintin Morris, none of whom have shown the same pass-catching upside as Strange throughout their careers. Their combined reception total of 31 during the 2024 season reflects that.
Thus, the way is clear for Strange to establish a stranglehold on the TE1 job under new head coach Liam Coen.
There have certainly been some trend-breakers recently -- namely the Lions' Sam LaPorta and the Raiders' Brock Bowers -- but the tight end position normally requires a couple seasons to settle in before truly flourishing.
Strange appears to be rising in the ranks at exactly the right time, rounding into form yet still evolving heading into Year 3.
"I think I have room to grow for sure," he said. "And I have room everywhere. That's not just as a receiver. That's being a blocker, being a leader on this team, I have so much more room to grow. I'm excited for that. It's gonna be challenging, but I'm up for the challenge. I know I'm capable."
Beyond his potential contributions through the air, Strange speaks a big game about opening up lanes for Jacksonville's run game. His services and continued improvement as a blocker will be sorely needed in that regard -- the Jags finished 26th in rushing yards in 2024 -- but his mentality is certainly in the right place.
"I want to be a complete tight end, and at the end of the day it's just like imposing your will," Strange said on the importance of being able to block well. "When you're blocking, like go out there and impose your will over somebody and you do it over and over again, they're going to break down eventually. It's one of my favorite parts, just being a complete tight end and being asked to do everything."
If the young tight end continues on his upward trajectory given more responsibility, the Jaguars could be looking at the makings of a terrific pass-catching trio of Strange, Thomas and No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter to help quarterback Trevor Lawrence finally take another step.
The opportunity, all out in front of him, has been a long time coming for Strange. Now, it's time to make the most of it.
"It was frustrating at times, but you just have to tell yourself, 'It's all part of the process,'" Strange said of his usage in the past. "Everything's a process. Everything that you do, you have to grow through. You have to learn. ... I feel like everything I've done in my life has prepared me for this moment right here. I'm excited for it. I'm ready to go. It's a blessing."
