Even if his receiving stats don't reflect it, Brenton Strange is a key contributor for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Not surprisingly, they didn't hesitate to give him an extension that makes the 2023 second-round pick one of the highest-paid tight ends in the NFL. Granted, the three-year, $48 million deal is relatively cap-friendly, but that doesn't make it any less notable. In fact, the Jags are getting lots of praise for wasting no time getting it done.
Outside of the Fantasy Bros echo chamber, Jacksonville is getting widespread recognition from both the local and national media for locking up Strange through 2029.
The Jaguars are getting great reviews for the Brenton Strange extension
John Shipley of Sports Illustrated gave the Jaguars praise for extending Brenton Strange now, noting that they locked up a valuable contributor and got ahead of the market before tight ends like Tucker Kraft, Sam Laporta, and Brock Bowers cash in.
Granted, Strange hasn't put up the kind of production Kraft, Laporta, and Bowers have had throughout their respective careers, but that's more or less a result of playing on an offense that puts an emphasis on spreading the ball. Moreover, the former Nittany State Lion spent his first two NFL seasons behind Evan Engram.
It's also worth noting that Strange is one of the best blocking tight ends in the league, and not just a big slot receiver. That kind of impact won't pop up on the statsheet, but it's clear that Jacksonville values that part of his game.
Like Shipley, Pete Prisco of CBS Sports also thinks Strange's extension is pretty good, arguing that the Parkersburg, West Virginia native is a mauler as a blocker and a big-time receiver. The only downside Prisco finds is that the fourth-year tight end may not get many targets in Jacksonville's crowded offense. Other than that, he thinks it was a good deal for both parties.
Sam Block of ESPN, for his part, states that Strange is one of the most underrated tight ends in the NFL, and extending him was huge for Trevor Lawrence.
Brenton Strange is a stud.
— Sam Block (@theblockspot) June 24, 2026
He’s the most underrated TE in the NFL.
Jags extending him is great for Trevor.
Brenton Strange is glad to remain with the Jaguars, can focus on the regular season
Brenton Strange, for one, is thrilled to remain in Jacksonville. he chose the bird at hand instead of waiting for other tight ends to sign their extension in an effort to get an even better contract. However, he didn't hesitate to get it done right now and focus on getting ready for the 2026 season.
Strange told the local media that he didn't think of getting a new deal often. But having checked off that box, he can fully focus on being a game-changer once again. And that's the thing, he posted a career best 46 receptions last season despite the fact that he sat out five games. It's fair to assume that he'll record even better numbers if he stays healthy in 2026.
The truth is that extending Brenton Strange was always going to be a no-brainer for the Jaguars. The NFL community most definitely agrees.
