Following the release of Evan Engram, tight end became a pressing need for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sure, Brenton Strange is still around, but they needed to add depth at the positions. Working against them is that they didn't have many enticing options in free agency. Fortunately, the Jags still managed to make a couple signings without having to break the bank.
Early in the first day of the legal tampering period, Michael DiRocco of ESPN reported that Jacksonville signed tight ends Hunter Long and Johnny Mundt. While the moves probably won't get the spotlight, they provide much-needed depth, especially when you take into account that Luke Farrell and Josiah Deguara left in free agency.
Long was a third-round pick in 2021 who spent his two first seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. He bolted for the Los Angeles Rams in 2023. His familiarity with new Jaguars general manager James Gladstone surely played a role in his arrival but is far from the only reason he signed in Jacksonville.
During his two-year stint with the Vikes, Long got to work with Grant Udinski, who was an assistant back then. The new Jaguars offensive coordinator's first-hand knowledge of the former Boston College Eagle might've also helped him land in Jacksonville. The same is true for Mundt, who spent the last three seasons in Minnesota.
But wait! Mundt also has a previous relationship with Gladstone from his playing days with the Rams from 2017-2021. Throughout his eight-year career, he's appeared in 98 games with 18 starts and registered 65 receptions for 547 yards with four touchdowns.
On the other hand, Long has played 37 games with five starts and hauled in eight receptions for 68 yards with no touchdowns.
Hunter Long and Johnny Mundt give the Jaguars depth after releasing Evan Engram
Evan Engram could've still helped the Jacksonville Jaguars next season. Sure, he's coming off an underwhelming season but was one of their top players in 2024 and the year prior. Then again, Brenton Strange filled in for him and fared well, registering 40 receptions for 411 yards with two touchdowns.
Once Strange showed that he was ready for a bigger workload, the Jaguars chose the $5.9 million in cap space that Engram's release created. On the other hand, his departure and Luke Farrell's left a void at tight end.
By signing Hunter Long and Johnny Mundt in free agency, Jacksonville shows that it's committed to Strange. Moreover, the front office didn't have to break the bank to replenish their tight end room.
While the terms of the deals haven't been announced the Jaguars surely paid significantly less than the San Francisco 49ers did for Farrell, who got a three-year deal worth $20.5 million. Granted, Farrell is a fine blocker and deserves to get paid whatever a team is willing to offer. That said, the Jags deserve praise for opting not to break the bank in free agency and instead look for upside acquisitions.
The bottom line is that neither Johnny Mundt nor Hunter Long are big-name players but both of them should be able to help the Jaguars. The fact that the front office got them at a reasonable price makes their addition look even better.