Jaguars TE Brenton Strange enters 2026 with high expectations

Brenton Strange heads into the 2026 season with more security than he’s known in his first three years in the NFL.

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed the 26-year-old tight end to a 3-year, $48 million contract extension with $25 million guaranteed during the offseason.

Despite the Jaguars using their first selection in the 2026 NFL Draft to pick tight end Nate Boerkircher, Strange is expected to be the lead tight end heading into the season.

Here are five things to know about Brenton Strange.

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Brenton Strange, from North Carolina to West Virginia

Strange was born in Eden, North Carolina, on Dec. 27, 2000. He attended high school about 300 miles from his birthplace in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

Strange was a four-year letterman and two-time captain for Parkersburg High and was named to USA TODAY’s All-USA West Virginia Football Team first-team in 2017 as a defensive back and again in 2018 as a tight end.

As a senior in 2018, Strange grabbed 65 passes for 1,083 yards and eight touchdowns. He added 65 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss and six sacks, and three interceptions.

Strange was rated a four-star recruit and committed to play college football at Penn State over offers from Ohio State, Notre Dame and Purdue.

Brenton Strange, from West Virginia to Pennsylvania

Strange appeared in two games for Penn State during his true freshmen year of 2019 before redshirting.

His numbers improved each year thereafter, going for 164 yards receiving and two touchdowns in 2020, 222 yards and three touchdowns in 2021 and 362 yards and five scores in 2022.

Following his redshirt junior season, Strange declared for the NFL Draft.

Brenton Strange, from Pennsylvania to Jacksonville

Strange was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 61st overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Jaguars made a franchise-record 13 selections in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Jags took Anton Harrison with their first pick, No. 27 in the first round, followed by Strange in the second round.

Their other 11 selections were taken in the third round or later.

Strange's Penn State teammate, Parker Washington, was selected in the sixth round.

Brenton Strange, from backup to starter

Strange entered the league in 2023 at a time when Evan Engram was the Jaguars’ starting tight end.

Engram had a career year in 2023 with 114 receptions for 963 yards and four touchdowns.

However, by Strange’s second year, Engram dealt with injuries and Strange saw more action. While he had just five receptions for 35 yards as a rookie, he had 40 receptions for 411 yards and two touchdowns in 2024.

Engram left for Denver in 2025, essentially promoting Strange to starter.

He made the most of it, finishing 2025 third on the team in receiving yards (540) and receptions (46), and tied for third in TD receptions (3).

Brenton Strange’s mentor: His mom

With a 3-year, $48 million contract extension with $25 million guaranteed, Strange can breathe a little easier, not just for himself, but for his mom.

After Strange was drafted into the NFL, he was asked if he had a coach or mentor who helped him make this dream come true.

While he praised his high school and college coaches, his answer, for him, was easy:

“My mom had me when she was 16 years old, and she made a lot of sacrifices for me to get in the position that I am in today. Whenever I feel tired, whenever I feel stressed or there is something that is holding me back mentally or physically, I just start to think about her and what she was willing to do for me. Anything I have to do as a football player I can do because my mom taught me that sacrifice is part of life and anything worth having is worth working for. You could say that she was mom and mentor and is a big reason why I have a chance to play in the NFL.”

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars TE Brenton Strange enters 2026 with high expectations