The Jaguars still need a tight end to complement this offense

The Jacksonville Jaguars should still seek a tight end in the 2019 NFL Draft to complement the passing game and the offense for the upcoming season.

It may not have been a sales pitch, but Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Nick Foles made it clear the team needs an active tight end for the upcoming season.

"“Tight end in this league right now is so important,” he said last week when he met with the media during the beginning of the team’s voluntary workout program.“The big reason is you want a guy that can go out and catch the ball.”"

The Jaguars didn’t do a good job of that last season, either at the tight end position or with the host of wide receivers and running backs who had the opportunity to haul in passes. In free agency, the front office signed Geoff Swaim, formally of Dallas, and brought James O’Shaughnessy, the leading pass receiver at the position in 2018, back on a two-year deal.

Neither player jumps off the page at you as a difference-maker, which could be the main reason the team looks to add someone like T.J. Hockenson with the seventh pick in the Draft on Thursday night.

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Foles knows a thing or two about tight ends, having worked in an offense in both Kansas City and Philadelphia that uses the position heavily in the passing game.

"“I have played with two of the best in the game; Travis Kelce and Zach Ertz and a young, up-and-comer Dallas Goedert, and I have also played with Brent Celek… You have to be able to run the ball with the tight end in the game, but they also have to be able to go out and catch the ball. It’s very hard to find guys that are good at both, but a key to a great offense is you really do need a good tight end,” he added."

I’m still on the defense-first bandwagon with this team, but the need at tight end, coupled with the deficiency at right tackle could make for an extremely tough decision for the front office. Foles mentioned in his time at the podium, having a strong offensive line is also crucial to everything working on this side of the ball.

Foles said he believes the organization will do what it thinks will help this team win football games. It’s not a situation where the new guy under center will have input in who has their name called on Thursday night.

Having O’Shaughnessy on the roster may be an added bonus since the two players were on the same team in Kansas City.

Hockenson and several other players at the position could be on the Jaguars radar, which means it may not be the first pick of the team’s draft process, but at least one player will be added to the mix next week. Foles will watch and wait to see who else he will have to work with at OTAs and training camp.

"“I’m going to let them make their decision and I’m going to do what I have to do in the locker room,” Foles said."