With the No. 56 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected tight end Nate Boerkircher, tight end, Texas A&M.
The Jaguars figured to add to the position at some point this weekend after parting ways with Hunter Long and Johnny Mundt. Boerkircher will join the team as the No. 3 tight end and figures to be involved in both 2-TE and 3-TE personnel packages. Head coach Liam Coen’s former boss, Sean McVay, popularized 3-TE sets last season.
Check out Big Cat Country’s draft home page for
our extensive coverage.
Process
The Jaguars seemed to be well-positioned after Round 1 with how many pass rushers remained on the board. However, nine defensive linemen were selected before Jacksonville went on the clock, including Illinois EDGE Gabe Jacas, whom the New England Patriots traded up ahead of the Jaguars at No. 55 to select.
Perhaps the Patriots’ move caused somewhat of a panic within the Jaguars’ draft room… because otherwise, it’s hard to explain why the team drafted the 163rd-ranked player on consensus big boards.
Boerkircher is probably a fine player, and Jacksonville’s regime has arguably already earned the benefit of the doubt, but this was a puzzling pick.
Player
Background
- Name: Nate Boerkircher
- Class: Sixth-year senior
- Age: 24 (turns 25 in September)
- Hometown: Aurora, NE
- High school: Aurora
- Recruiting: 0 stars
- Consensus ranking: 163
- Instagram: @nate.boerkircher
- X: @NBoerkircher
Stats
| Receiving | Rushing | Scrimmage | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Rec | Yds | Y/R | TD | Y/G | Att | Yds | Y/A | TD | Y/G | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD | Awards |
| 2021 | Nebraska | Big Ten | FR | TE | 3 | 2 | 14 | 7.0 | 0 | 4.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 14 | 7.0 | 0 | ||
| 2022 | Nebraska | Big Ten | FR | TE | 12 | 6 | 52 | 8.7 | 1 | 4.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 6 | 52 | 8.7 | 1 | ||
| 2023 | Nebraska | Big Ten | SO | TE | 12 | 5 | 51 | 10.2 | 0 | 4.3 | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 0 | 0.9 | 6 | 62 | 10.3 | 0 | |
| 2024* | Nebraska | Big Ten | JR | TE | 12 | 6 | 102 | 17.0 | 0 | 8.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 6 | 102 | 17.0 | 0 | ||
| 2025 | Texas A&M | SEC | SR | TE | 13 | 19 | 198 | 10.4 | 3 | 15.2 | 3 | 5 | 1.7 | 1 | 0.4 | 22 | 203 | 9.2 | 4 | |
| Career | 52 | 38 | 417 | 11.0 | 4 | 8.0 | 4 | 16 | 4.0 | 1 | 0.3 | 42 | 433 | 10.3 | 5 | |||||
| Nebraska (4 Yrs) | 39 | 19 | 219 | 11.5 | 1 | 5.6 | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 0 | 0.3 | 20 | 230 | 11.5 | 1 | |||||
| Texas A&M (1 Yr) | 13 | 19 | 198 | 10.4 | 3 | 15.2 | 3 | 5 | 1.7 | 1 | 0.4 | 22 | 203 | 9.2 | 4 | |||||
Reports
From Lance Zierlein of NFL.com:
Skip the stat page for Boerkircher because what he offers won’t be found there. 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.
From Dane Brugler of The Athletic:
Boerkircher is a good-sized athlete with the catch-point talent and blocking refinement to earn a role in an NFL offense. He brings versatility to line up detached, in the backfield or in the slot.
From Ben Cartwright of Sports Info Solutions:
Even with some athletic and explosive limitations, Boerkircher has the FBI, hands, and competitive toughness to be a quality No. 2 backup at the next level.
From Daniel Harms of Bleacher Report:
Nate Boerkircher will come into the NFL as a blocking-first tight end, but he has more in the tank as a route-runner than you’d expect.
Highlights
Jaguars fans, let us know your initial thoughts in the comments below!
