When NFL Insiders broke the news of Brenton Strange’s extension with the Jaguars, the numbers looked surprising. Reported as a three-year deal worth “up to $48 million”. At the commensurate APY, Strange would have been the fourth-highest-paid tight end in the NFL.
As with most of these reports, “up to” was doing work. But this time, that phrase is doing a lot more heavy lifting than most. The final details show that 25 percent of that reported total is on the incentive side, and his deal is much more in line with his production history.
At $12 million per year, Strange actually slots in just behind Pat Freiermuth as the 10th-highest-paid player at his position. And that values him at a rate equal to his two-year production with upside on the incentives that ask him to prove his 2025 is sustainable.
Looking at Jaguars TE Brenton Strange's comparisons
Over the last two years, Strange has caught 86 passes for 951 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 1.60 yards per route run. The closest recent comps to that production are Gerald Everett (2021), Pat Freiermuth (2024), Noah Fant (2024), Isaiah Likely (2026), and Tyler Conklin (2022). That data set averaged 81 catches for 867 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 1.39 yards per route run.
The average cap-adjusted APY of that group is $11.73 million per year. The Jaguars paid only marginally above that group average. That’s notable since Strange led the group in efficiency and is its youngest member by a full year. There's a real case he could have commanded north of $12 million.
We have made the case previously this is a good deal. But let's dive into why in a bit more detail.
2025's efficiency shows potential upside for Brenton Strange
Strange averaged 1.70 yards per route run in 2025. For a tight end, that’s an impressive number. He tied for 10th in the NFL in that mark. Since 2020, only six tight ends signed contracts coming off a season where they caught 40 or more passes and averaged 1.70 yards per route run.
Those six tight ends? Travis Kelce (2020), George Kittle (2020), Mark Andrews (2021), Darren Waller (2022), Travis Kelce (2024), and Trey McBride (2025). The cap-adjusted average of those contracts is over $20 million. Those players had a more established volume resume, but they also represent the upside that Strange presents. And that explains why his side pushed for the incentives that can lift his salary into a higher tier.
And Jacksonville has good reason to think that will continue even with the best version of their offense on the field. That number ballooned to 1.78 from Week 12 through the end of the season, after he returned from injured reserve. That’s noteworthy because that was after Jacksonville acquired Jakobi Meyers. Meyers helped unlock the offense.
Prior to Meyers’ arrival, the Jaguars were 21st in the NFL in EPA/play. After Meyers’ arrival, but before Strange’s return, they moved to 18th. But with both players on the field, the Jags truly leveled up, moving to seventh overall and 2nd in dropback EPA/play.
While the Steelers are paying D.K. Metcalf $25 million this year for 3.9 catches, 56.7 yards and 0.4 touchdowns per game, the Jags have two players together for just under the same price who averaged 8.6 catches, 102.0 yards and 0.9 touchdowns per game during their seven-game sample together last year. That’s an incredible bargain.
If Strange can keep up his 2025 pace over a full season, he will likely earn many of his incentives. And that’s okay, because at that rate of play he would be worth that and more.
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