Jacksonville Jaguars: TE is biggest roster hole ahead of training camp

It’s easy to nitpick the personnel moves the Jacksonville Jaguars made this offseason. However, it will be a while before they know the overall impact of the draft class. You can also say that a signing may have been overpriced or unnecessary but you can’t really grade them until the 2021 season takes place. Having said that, the Jags could have done a better job addressing their tight end room.

Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report recently wrote about every NFL team’s biggest hole ahead of training camp. To nobody’s surprise, tight end was the pick for the Jaguars. He thinks there’s a good chance Tim Tebow won’t be able to make an impact in 2021 and suggests the Jaguars may have signed him as a marketing stunt. Gagnon points out that the Florida product hasn’t played a regular-season game in years and then takes a look a the rest of the Jaguars’ tight end room.

"Tebow hasn’t played since 2012, and that was at quarterback. Let’s be real. And beyond that, it’d be Chris Manhertz (who is 29 years old with 12 catches on his resume), James O’Shaughnessy (also 29 with three career touchdown grabs), sophomore sixth-round pick Tyler Davis, second-year undrafted free agent Ben Ellefson and rookie fifth-rounder Luke Farrell.No security blanket for you, Trevor Lawrence!"

The Jacksonville Jaguars have options (and a plan) at tight end.

It’s not too late for the Jaguars to make upgrades at tight end room. They could organize a reunion with Tyler Eifert or sign Trey Burton, who is still available. Neither player is an All-Pro but they could give the unit a boost. While Zach Ertz (Philadelphia Eagles) might no longer be on the trade block, they could acquire Hayden Hurst (Atlanta Falcons) or even Foster Moreau (Las Vegas Raiders). Jacksonville might be turned down but it doesn’t hurt to perform due diligence.

On the other hand, it looks like the Jags will roll with their current group of tight ends. Head coach Urban Meyer thinks Chris Manhertz can develop into a functional receiver. General manager Trent Baalke told the media after the draft that Luke Farrell was underutilized at Ohio State. While it may be unreasonable to expect Manhertz and Farrell to turn into All-Pros, the coaching staff genuinely thinks they can contribute this upcoming season.

You could make a similar case for Tim Tebow. The 2010 first-round pick isn’t getting any younger and the clock is ticking. Nevertheless, he’s put his head down and is doing everything he’s been asked to do. The Jaguars surely know he doesn’t have enough time to make a full transition to tight end, so they may be designing special packages for him. As a media personality suggested, he could see time in red-zone and short-yardage situations.

Tight end is indeed the Jacksonville Jaguars’ weakest positional group but that doesn’t mean the organization can’t get solid production out of it. Don’t expect Manhertz, Tebow, or Farrell to make the Pro Bowl any time soon but if they can move the chains every now and become reliable targets in the passing game, the Jags should be alright in 2021.