The Jaguars surprise with Nate Boerkircher at No. 56, adding a blocking tight end as their first selection in the 2026 NFL draft.
With their first pick on Day 2 of the NFL draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected tight end Nate Boerkircher from Texas A&M as the 56th pick.
Entering the draft, Jacksonville's draft needs were widely assumed to be at defensive end, defensive tackle and linebacker. Although the Boerkircher selection does not address a strong positional need, many of the draft prospects mocked to the Jaguars, like Georgia's CJ Allen and Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez, were taken way before the team was on the clock.
Boerkircher is 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, and was deployed more as a blocking tight end than as a receiver. He recorded 19 receptions for 198 yards and three touchdowns. His best game came against South Carolina with three receptions and one touchdown.
Boerkircher has shown the ability to haul in contested catches in man coverage and run through contact, despite his limited targets.
The Aurora, Nebraska, native started his career at Nebraska, where he totaled 19 receptions, 219 yards and one touchdown in four seasons with the Cornhuskers.
Boerkircher's production may not be the most eye-opening, but he is an able blocker in the passing and running game.
"He can line up in-line, land on targets in space and finish his blocks," NFL analyst Lance Zierlein wrote in Boerkircher's draft profile.
At the NFL combine in February, he posted a 73 athleticism score (14th), 71 total score (13th) and a 67 production score (16th).
Boerkircher was projected as a fourth-round draft pick with a 6.17 prospect grade, touted as a good backup who could develop into a starter, but Jacksonville took him two rounds earlier.
The Jaguars have four tight ends: starter Brenton Strange, Quintin Morris, Hunter Long and Patrick Herbert. Strange is the most productive of the group, but the depth is shaky after him.
Morris and Long had 18 receptions, 140 yards and three touchdowns combined. Boerkircher could come into training camp and compete for snaps in head coach Liam Coen and offensive coordinator Grant Udinski's offense. Herbert did not record any snaps for Jacksonville in his rookie campaign last season.
Addressing offense early wasn't a common theme for the Jaguars in various mocks. However, they could see potential in Boerkircher's abilities that would excel in Coen's offense and become a productive tight end alongside Strange.
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