The Jacksonville Jaguars have caught a lot of heat for drafting Nate Boerkircher in Round 2 of the NFL Draft, way before the consensus board suggested. However, the pick wasn't nearly as bad as it seemed, with new details surfacing about the Jags' decision to take a tight end with minimal production at the college level.
Leaving aside that Boerkircher's separation rate proves that his lack of targets wasn't his fault, several analysts have stated that other teams had set their sights on the former Texas A&M Aggie. And if Jacksonville hadn't drafted him at No. 56, another club would've taken him late in the second round or early in the third.
But even if the Jaguars reached for Boerkircher, head coach Liam Coen made it clear that they feel great about the pick.
The Jaguars don't care about the Nate Boerkircher criticism
Liam Coen met with the local media on Day 2 of rookie minicamp and stated that the Jaguars don't care what analysts think about the Nate Boerkircher pick, noting that they care about their internal process.
"Yeah, unfortunately, it's kind of, I guess what I said after it's not coming, and we don't really care," Coen responded when asked if the criticism surrounding Boekircher affects the team (8:34 mark). "So it's about our consensus and what we believe in this building, about each player and how they fit in. And character matters, personal and football character matters, and the mental, the learning, how much they can take in a short period of time to go, be able to get on the grass and go play."
Coen continued, "I wouldn't say either of our offensive or defensive systems are quote, unquote easy, right? And so we do value players that can do different things and be able to go mentally, play the game fast."
Boerkircher was the best blocking tight end in this year's class, which is one of the main reasons Jacksonville made him a second-round selection. On the other hand, he ranked 163rd in the consensus big board because he reeled in a measly 19 receptions for 198 yards with three touchdowns in 2025.
This led several analysts to blast the Jags' decision to take a "blocking tight end" so early. However, he fits the team's vision of setting the tone at the line of scrimmage and using more two-tight end sets.
The Jaguars are confident Nate Boerkircher can be a playmaker
It's early, but Nate Boerkircher looked like he belongs at rookie minicamp, showcasing noticeable agility for his size and soft hands. The fact that he'll be No. 2 behind Brenton Strange on the depth chart should also take a bit of pressure off his shoulders.
On the other hand, you could make the case that the Jaguars should have addressed another need in the second round, but if Boerkircher turns into an offensive mainstay, where they drafted him will be irrelevant.
The jury is still out, and questions will linger about whether Nate Boerkircher will prove the Jaguars made the right call. Time will tell, but they are confident they did.
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