When you think about the Jacksonville Jaguars’ offensive weapons, names like Trevor Lawrence, Travis Hunter, and Brian Thomas, Jr., come to mind. But as the 2025 season approaches, one of the most important pieces might not be a household name—at least not yet.
Bleacher Report recently named third-year tight end Brenton Strange as Jacksonville’s potential X-Factor for the upcoming season. For a player who spent his early NFL career in the shadow of Evan Engram, that’s a big statement—and one worth paying attention to.
From Penn State to the Jaguars: Brenton Strange has a chance to shine
The Jaguars drafted Strange in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Penn State, where he built a reputation as a tough, physical tight end with dependable hands and a mean streak as a blocker.
Strange's rookie campaign was quiet, buried on the depth chart behind Engram. But the 2024 season saw the Parkersburg, West Virginia native step into the spotlight when injuries opened the door. He finished with 40 receptions for 411 yards and two touchdowns, including a breakout game against the New York Jets in Week 15, where he caught 11 receptions for 73 yards.
Fast forward to 2025, and Engram is gone for good, and Strange is no longer the backup—he’s the clear TE1 on the roster, and expectations are climbing fast.
Related: The worst-case scenario for the Jaguars in 2025 is a nightmare fuel for Trevor Lawrence
Why Strange is the Jaguars’ X-Factor
1. Filling a Big Void
Evan Engram was a key piece of Jacksonville’s offense, hauling in over 2,000 yards and nine touchdowns during his time in Duval, including a Pro Bowl-worthy 2023 season. I was disappointed when they cut Engram, even if I understood the decision. However, while Engram more often functioned as WR3 rather than TE1, Strange offers a more balanced skill set—one that could open up new wrinkles in the offense.
2. Perfect Fit for Offensive Coordinator Grant Udinski’s System
Offensive coordinator Grant Udinski values versatility. "The nice thing about those guys is they're versatile," Udinski said during training camp when talking about the Jaguars' tight end room. "They add value in the pass game, the run game, they can line up flexed out, they can line up in-line, they can line up in the wing, they can come back and go across. So there's a lot of different things those guys can do, so the mixing and matching of them is what's nice about that room."
Tight ends in this scheme need to block at a high level, run precise routes, and be dangerous after the catch. Strange checks all those boxes, making him a natural fit for Udinksi's plans.
3. Red-Zone Presence
At 6'4", 253 pounds, Strange is a physical mismatch in tight spaces. The Jaguars’ red-zone offense has been inconsistent the past two years, and Strange’s size and catch radius could be the difference between field goals and touchdowns.
Brenton Strange is ready to show the Jaguars he can be TE1
What makes Strange exciting isn’t just his ability to “do the job”—it’s that he can elevate the offense in subtle ways. His blocking ability could help spring Etienne and rookie Bhayshul Tuten. His reliability in the short passing game could keep the chains moving on third down. And his willingness to fight for yards after contact could fire up both teammates and fans.
In a league where defenses are built to stop explosive plays, having a tight end who can work the middle of the field is invaluable. That’s the role Strange is stepping into.
#Jaguars scrimmage today. Should be a lovely practice. Here’s TE Brenton Strange doing what he’s done all camp: pic.twitter.com/IX3ebyTDZ1
— Demetrius Harvey (@Demetrius82) August 14, 2025
What Comes Next
Strange has had plenty of reps in training camp, where he's built more chemistry with Trevor Lawrence and proved he can be a go-to option in key situations. If he continues to progress, there’s a real chance he becomes one of the Jaguars’ most consistent and reliable offensive weapons.
Final Word
Calling Brenton Strange the Jaguars’ “X-Factor” might seem bold, but the pieces are all there: opportunity, scheme fit, and the skill set to make a difference every week. If he delivers on the hype, Jacksonville’s offense could be more dangerous than ever in 2025.