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The price for the Jacksonville Jaguars to extend Brenton Strange just went up.
Now that the Atlanta Falcons have agreed to a new, three-year, $54 million contract with tight end Kyle Pitts, Jacksonville's TE has a figure to aim for during negotiations for his own extension. Pitt's $18 million average annual value ranks third in the NFL, behind George Kittle and Trey McBride.
How much will the Pitts extension affect the negotiations between Strange and the Jaguars? Even if Jacksonville isn't prepared to meet the AAV of $18 million for Strange, it's a solid bet that the 25-year-old will command at least $15 million/year, which would place him fourth among TEs.
And that's not even factoring in Sam LaPorta, who is entering the final season of his rookie contract with the Detroit Lions. LaPorta has been excellent for Detroit and will likely be looking for a deal in the $20 million/year range.
If LaPorta signs his extension before Strange, it could also raise the price for the Jaguars.
While Pitts and Strange both are extremely important for their respective teams, they are totally different players.
Pitts is an outstanding receiver who lines up in the slot more than anywhere else. However, the former fourth-overall pick does not offer much in the blocking department, limiting his status as a complete tight end.
Strange, on the other hand, is capable as both a receiving threat and as a blocker. He can line up either in the slot or as a traditional in-line TE. Strange may not have the receiving upside or ability to create mismatches that Pitts has, but has an argument for being the better, more well-rounded player.
Does that mean Jacksonville will agree to pay him as much, or more, than Atlanta just paid Pitts?
Time will tell, but the team has numerous variables that may factor into how they handle Strange.
Including Strange, the Jaguars have a loaded TE room. The team just used a second-round pick to draft TE Nate Boerkircher out of Texas A&M and then double-dipped at the position in the fifth round, taking Tanner Koziol from Houston.
Both rookies have looked good so far in OTAs and minicamp, and have generated plenty of buzz, especially Koziol, for the upcoming season.
Even though Jacksonville is expected to use more TE-heavy sets in 2026, will they still commit big money to Strange now that they have two younger, cheaper options at the position?
Not only do the Jaguars have to worry about a new contract for Strange, wide receiver Parker Washington is also due for an extension. The fourth-year WR enjoyed a breakout season in 2025, and is hoping to be even better in 2026.
Washington is looking at a deal estimated to be somewhere in the ballpark of $17-20 million per year. Can the Jaguars pay that kind of money to both Washington and Strange? If they can choose only one, it appears that Washington would be the priority, especially with Boerkircher and Koziol now on the roster.
The tight end market is currently exploding in the NFL. With the lavish extensions given to Kittle, McBride, and now Pitts, the next round of TEs signing extensions figure to get a boatload of money.
Right now, Isaiah Likely, who just signed a three-year, $40+ million deal with the New York Giants in free agency, is the fourth-highest-paid TE in the league. Strange has a solid argument that he has been more productive than Likely, and will likely (pun intended) ask for more than his $13.33 million AAV.
But would Jacksonville really pay Strange top-four TE money? That may be a tough sell, especially with the other needs the roster currently has.
Pitts' new deal certainly gives Strange more leverage in extension talks, but it remains to be seen if the Jaguars will be willing to pay top-dollar to keep their top tight end.
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Now that the Atlanta Falcons have agreed to a new, three-year, $54 million contract with tight end Kyle Pitts, Jacksonville's TE has a figure to aim for during negotiations for his own extension. Pitt's $18 million average annual value ranks third in the NFL, behind George Kittle and Trey McBride.
How much will the Pitts extension affect the negotiations between Strange and the Jaguars? Even if Jacksonville isn't prepared to meet the AAV of $18 million for Strange, it's a solid bet that the 25-year-old will command at least $15 million/year, which would place him fourth among TEs.
And that's not even factoring in Sam LaPorta, who is entering the final season of his rookie contract with the Detroit Lions. LaPorta has been excellent for Detroit and will likely be looking for a deal in the $20 million/year range.
If LaPorta signs his extension before Strange, it could also raise the price for the Jaguars.
Pitts And Strange Are Totally Different Players
While Pitts and Strange both are extremely important for their respective teams, they are totally different players.
Pitts is an outstanding receiver who lines up in the slot more than anywhere else. However, the former fourth-overall pick does not offer much in the blocking department, limiting his status as a complete tight end.
Strange, on the other hand, is capable as both a receiving threat and as a blocker. He can line up either in the slot or as a traditional in-line TE. Strange may not have the receiving upside or ability to create mismatches that Pitts has, but has an argument for being the better, more well-rounded player.
Does that mean Jacksonville will agree to pay him as much, or more, than Atlanta just paid Pitts?
Time will tell, but the team has numerous variables that may factor into how they handle Strange.
Jaguars Have A Loaded TE Room
Including Strange, the Jaguars have a loaded TE room. The team just used a second-round pick to draft TE Nate Boerkircher out of Texas A&M and then double-dipped at the position in the fifth round, taking Tanner Koziol from Houston.
Both rookies have looked good so far in OTAs and minicamp, and have generated plenty of buzz, especially Koziol, for the upcoming season.
Even though Jacksonville is expected to use more TE-heavy sets in 2026, will they still commit big money to Strange now that they have two younger, cheaper options at the position?
Parker Washington Extension
Not only do the Jaguars have to worry about a new contract for Strange, wide receiver Parker Washington is also due for an extension. The fourth-year WR enjoyed a breakout season in 2025, and is hoping to be even better in 2026.
Washington is looking at a deal estimated to be somewhere in the ballpark of $17-20 million per year. Can the Jaguars pay that kind of money to both Washington and Strange? If they can choose only one, it appears that Washington would be the priority, especially with Boerkircher and Koziol now on the roster.
Final Thoughts
The tight end market is currently exploding in the NFL. With the lavish extensions given to Kittle, McBride, and now Pitts, the next round of TEs signing extensions figure to get a boatload of money.
Right now, Isaiah Likely, who just signed a three-year, $40+ million deal with the New York Giants in free agency, is the fourth-highest-paid TE in the league. Strange has a solid argument that he has been more productive than Likely, and will likely (pun intended) ask for more than his $13.33 million AAV.
But would Jacksonville really pay Strange top-four TE money? That may be a tough sell, especially with the other needs the roster currently has.
Pitts' new deal certainly gives Strange more leverage in extension talks, but it remains to be seen if the Jaguars will be willing to pay top-dollar to keep their top tight end.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
