If there’s a moment that Brenton Strange has waited for, this would be the chance to prove that he can go side by side against the best players in the world. As the Jacksonville Jaguars seek to trust him with the tight end spot, this may well be the shot he’s looking for all along. But is he responsible enough to bring the best of his game this time?

For two seasons, Strange has lurked behind Evan Engram on the lineup for the Jaguars. He has lived under the shadows in the tight end depth chart – and the second-rounder could not have asked for a bigger chance to prove his worth than to be on the top of the list this time around after Engram was released.

Nothing has been easy for the Jaguars over the years. Strange, for what it is worth, has also not seen the bigger game on a consistent basis as he always comes off the bench as a second option. Now more than ever, it seems that the tight end will earn the brightest spotlight of his career with the hopes of finally earning the role on a full-time basis.

On the Proving Ground for Strange

Simply put, the spotlight for Strange is going to be the whole 2025 season now more than ever. Nothing has been easy for the tight end, and he has got to be excited to see the chance finally come into reality with the hopes of showing that he has what it takes to convince the entire management that he can actually thrive when it matters most.

"I'm definitely ready for it," Strange said about the incoming opportunity for the tight end. "I have a lot of confidence in myself and I've always had a lot of confidence in myself. I feel like I'm always one of the best players on the field. I feel like that's the mentality I bring."

He did have some flashes of chances to prove his worth. The Jaguars dealt with the injuries for Engram, and that led to some promising chances for Strange to step in with 10 starts. So far, he finished third in total catches with 40 – even having two touchdowns and just behind rookie wideout Brian Thomas Jr. with 411 receiving yards in 17 games played.

Can Strange Flourish in the Spot?

Heading into his third year with the Jaguars, it is expected that the tight end is going to find some big struggles and adjustments that need to be made to further supplant his claim on the TE1 spot. There are, after all, veteran options for the team such as Johnny Mundt, Hunter Long and Quintin Morris.

The difference? None of them show the same upside on the passing lanes as Strange has shown in his first two years. The three veterans combined for just a total of 31 receptions – which is a far cry from Strange’s impressive numbers. The thing is, Strange still has a lot of potential as well.

"I think I have room to grow for sure," Strange said of his advantage. "And I have room everywhere. That's not just as a receiver. That's being a blocker, being a leader on this team, I have so much more room to grow. I'm excited for that. It's gonna be challenging, but I'm up for the challenge. I know I'm capable."

That is a promising look for Strange this time around considering that the Jaguars have also brought in head coach Liam Coen this offseason with the hopes of seeing some drastic changes. This is definitely a look for him to keep a promising grasp of the TE1 spot moving forward.