The Jacksonville Jaguars properly addressed most of their roster needs this offseason. Although they didn’t neglect their tight end room, it feels like they could have done a better job upgrading the unit. Earlier this year, the Jags opted not to exercise the team option on Tyler Eifert. At the time, it looked like the move was going to pave the way for a splash signing in free agency.
This wasn’t a particularly talented class, but there were a handful of appealing options available in the open market. Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry were the top tight ends in free agency with veteran Jared Cook offering another alternative. Instead, the Jaguars gave Chris Manhertz a two-year contract worth $7.25 million, which isn’t a bad thing in itself. After all, the Canisius product will have a key role in short-yardage and red-zone situations. However, he won’t probably contribute much in the passing game, as he has hauled in just 12 receptions in his six-year career.
Ok, so Jacksonville didn’t add a tight end in free agency but what about the draft? Kyle Pitts was a top 5 prospect and out of reach for the Jags but they could have targeted Pat Friermuth late in the first round or early in the second. They also had the chance to take Tommy Tremble or Kylen Granson in the third or fourth round, so what did they do? They waited until Round 5 to select Luke Farrell, who could develop into a solid NFL starter down the road but is currently a developmental prospect.
So, how does the Jaguars’ tight end room look ahead of training camp? Let’s take a look.
The Jacksonville Jaguars lack a deep threat at tight end.
Here’s how the Jaguars’ tight end room looks ahead of training camp:
- James O’Shaughnessy
- Chris Manhertz
- Tim Tebow
- Luke Farrell
- Ben Ellefson
- Tyler Davis
Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer praised both James O’Shaughnessy and sophomore Ben Ellefson earlier this year. He said both players have shown significant improvement this offseason. However, the team doesn’t currently have a clear-cut number-one tight end.
O’Shaughnessy appeared in 15 games with 13 starts for the Jags last year. He caught 28 passes for 262 yards and no touchdowns. The team’s brass brought him back on a one-year deal this offseason but he may be better suited for a backup role. The former regime was high on Ellefson, who signed with the team as an undrafted free agent last offseason. The North Dakota State product made four starts but only hauled one reception for ten yards. A knee injury cut his rookie season short.
Tyler Davis appeared in eight games last season but had no catches. The 2020 sixth-round pick will need to shine in training camp if he wants to make the team. He will also have to compete with the Jaguars’ biggest offseason wildcard, Tim Tebow.
After being away from the NFL for several years, the former Gator is making the transition from quarterback (the position he’s played throughout his football career) to tight end. He won’t have too much time to show he can contribute in 2021 but his relationship with Meyer, along with his leadership skills, could help him secure a roster spot.
The Jacksonville Jaguars need to sort out their tight end room.
Tight end is arguably the Jaguars’ weakest positional group ahead of training camp. They could still organize a reunion with Tyler Eifert. They could also try to trade for Zach Ertz or Hayden Hurst but there are no indications the team will make any additional moves ahead of training camp. For the time being, here’s how the depth chart could look in Week 1:
- Chris Manhertz
- James O’Shaughnessy
- Luke Farrell
- Tim Tebow
There’s a good chance Manhertz will be the starter but O’Shaughnessy could also see the field often. Farrell could crack the starting lineup if he shows upside as a receiver. The former Buckeye caught 34 passes and four touchdowns over his four-year collegiate career but Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke believes the 2021 fifth-round pick was underutilized at Ohio State.
Maybe Farrell was a hidden gem but he needs to show he can be a reliable target in the passing game. Tebow could earn a roster spot with one caveat. He won’t be a true tight end and will instead play in goal-line and short-yardage situations. He doesn’t have much time to learn the position, so the coaching staff could designate special packages for the 2010 first-round pick.
Ellefson should be a candidate to join the practice squad unless he has an outstanding training camp. It will be interesting to see what the Jaguars do with Davis, are they ready to move on from the Georgia Tech product after just one season? Jacksonville is in the first year of a rebuild. It’s true that their tight end room needs work but they can’t fix everything in one season. In the meantime, they likely expect one of their current tight ends to stand out from the bunch.