When the Jacksonville Jaguars wrapped up their rookie minicamp this weekend, all eyes were on tight end Nate Boerkircher and offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon. But for savvy fans and draft analysts, there's another name worth watching—Tanner Koziol, a fifth-round pick who quietly stole the show.
Drafted in the later rounds, Koziol didn't generate much buzz initially. Even analysts were lukewarm on the pick, though Jaguars executive James Gladstone had plenty of praise for him. Now, it seems Gladstone's confidence was well-placed: Koziol has already been named a standout from minicamp, turning heads with his athleticism and fluidity on the field.
"Koziol was one of the most fluid and athletic skill players on the field," wrote SI's John Shipley. "Considering his near 6-foot-7 frame, it was staggering to see how easy he moved in and out of breaks and accelerated after the catch. He might take time to develop his strength, but there is real upside there as a pass-catcher."
It's easy to overlook a Day 3 pick when bigger names like Boerkircher and Pregnon dominate the headlines. But Koziol's performance over the weekend serves as a reminder: don't count him out, even in a crowded tight end room.
Brenton Strange is locked in as TE1, with Boerkircher likely sliding into the TE2 role. Behind them, Koziol faces competition from Hunter Long, Patrick Herbert, and Quintin Morris for a roster spot. But if he continues to flash his receiving skills, he could make a serious push—especially against Long, whose role has been shrinking. Long didn't take an offensive snap after Week 14 last season, and cutting him would free up cap space for the Jags.
On paper, Koziol may not look like the most exciting draft pick. He was selected in a later round, and the Jaguars' draft class hasn't drawn rave reviews from analysts. But if his minicamp performance is any indication, underestimating him would be a huge mistake.
