With the 56th pick in the 2026 NFL draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Texas A&M tight end Nate Boerkircher.
Let's take a closer look at this pick with three things to know.
Nate Boerkircher's fit in the Jaguars ' offense
Boerkircher adds another blocking-heavy presence to the Jaguars' offense. In the short term, he gives Liam Coen the flexibility to play more three-tight-end looks, not to mention that he could compete with Quintin Morris for snaps. In the long-run, he could be TE2, with Morris set to be a free agent in 2027.
Boerkircher does possess upside as a pass catcher, despite the stat sheet not reflecting that.
Nate Boerkircher's athletic profile
Nate Boerkircher's draft profile
Here is what NFL.com's Lance Zierlein had to say about Boerkircher in his pre-draft scouting report:
"Skip the stat page for Boerkircher because what he offers won't be found there. He has average size and strength but compensates with willingness as a blocker and a taste for contact that isn't always easy to find. He can line up in-line, land on targets in space and finish his blocks. Despite pedestrian production over five seasons, his tape shows an ability to challenge man coverage, secure contested catches with sticky hands and accelerate through contact as a runner. He's flown under the radar but projects as an alignment-versatile combo tight end with the talent to start in the NFL."
One stat to know about Nate Boerkircher
Boerkircher ranked 22nd out of all tight ends last season in PFF's run-blocking grade. Over 61% of his snaps in 2025 came as a blocker.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: 2026 NFL draft: 4 observations from Jaguars picking Nate Boerkircher
