The Jacksonville Jaguars showed how much they value Brenton Strange when they gave him a three-year extension. At the time, it was reported that the deal had a total value of $48 million. All things considered, that's not a bad price tag for one of the most versatile tight ends in the NFL. However, recent details confirm that the Jags got more value than originally thought.
Michael Ginitti of Spotrac revealed the details of Strange's extension, noting that it has a base value of $36 million with $17 million guaranteed at signing. Of those $36 million, the former Penn State Nittany Lion will get $8 milllion more next March. On top of that, the deal is cap-friendly.
Strange will count $3.3 million against the cap in 2026. He'll have cap hits of $5.9 million and 11.2 million in 2027 and 2028, respectively. The fourth-year tight end will count $13.3 million in the last year of the deal, with a void year of $3.9 million in 2030. When you add it all up, Jacksonville managed to lock up a key contributor without going overboard.
The Jaguars got a sweet deal with Brenton Strange
Even if the Jaguars had gotten Brenton Strange for the reported $16 million per year, it would've been a pretty good deal. The latest details make it look even better.
If Strange had an average of $16 million, he would have ranked fourth behind George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers), Trey McBride (Arizona Cardinals), and Kyle Pitts (Arizona Cardinals), who got an extension a few days before his Jags counterpart.
At $13 million per year, Strange is sixth behind Mark Andrews (annual average of $13.09 million) and above Dalton Schultz ($12,6 million). Far from chump change, but still a bargain compared to the amount that was originally reported.
The Jaguars didn't hesitate to pay the ascending Brenton Strange
You could make the case that even at $13 million, the Jaguars are overpaying Strange, as he's only had more than 500 yards receiving once in three NFL seasons. However, he was stuck behind Evan Engram in his first two years in Jacksonville. Nevertheless, the Parkersburg, West Virginia native made the most out of whatever opportunities he got, which led in part to the decision to release Engram in 2025.
With Engram out of the mix, Strange flourished last year, catching 46 receptions for 540 yards with three touchdowns despite the fact that he sat out five games. Imagine what he can do in his second year in the Liam Coen offense.
If that wasn't enough, Strange brings way more value than his statline suggests. For one, Strange is one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL. Moreover, his aggressive mindset sets the tone on offense.
When you add it all up, the Jaguars made the right call to lock up Brenton Strange before he became a free agent in 2027. By getting a deal done now, they managed to extend him without going over budget.
