Bucky Brooks Says Jaguars Tight End Brenton Strange Is About to Explode. Here’s Why.

The Jacksonville Jaguars just handed Brenton Strange a $48 million contract extension. That’s a lot of money for a tight end who has never had a 600-yard season. But NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks thinks that’s about to change — dramatically.

Brooks went on X and made a pretty bold prediction about Strange. He called him a “big time playmaker” and said his numbers are going to “explode.” He also said Strange is a “very talented mismatch weapon who could change how opponents defend the Jags’ passing game.” That’s a lot of praise for a guy entering his third season.

The contract and what it means

The deal is three years, up to $48 million, with $25 million guaranteed. That’s real money for a tight end who was a second-round pick in 2023. The Jaguars clearly see him as a core piece of their offense moving forward. They could have let him test free agency next offseason. Instead they locked him up now.

Strange caught 46 passes for 540 yards and three touchdowns last season. Those aren’t earth-shattering numbers. But head coach Liam Coen found ways to use him that the previous coaching staff didn’t. Coen flexed Strange out wide, moved him into the slot, used him as an in-line blocker. He became a chess piece instead of just a tight end.

Why Brooks is betting on a breakout

Brooks pointed to Strange’s versatility. At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, he’s too big for most defensive backs and too fast for most linebackers. Coen started attacking the intermediate part of the field with Strange last season, and it worked. Strange helped give Trevor Lawrence a reliable safety valve when the deep shots weren’t there.

Strange has now put up back-to-back 40-reception seasons. That’s not nothing. But Coen seems intent on expanding his role even more. The Jaguars ran Strange on more routes that let him catch the ball in space and use his physicality after the catch. His run blocking also improved, which kept him on the field in more situations.

The AFC South is winnable. The Jaguars won it last year, and keeping Strange around gives Lawrence another weapon to grow with. If Brooks is right and Strange’s numbers do explode, this contract might end up looking like a bargain.