Jaguars’ Draft Profile: Nate Boerkircher

Q: What are Nate Boerkircher's college statistics?

Nate Boerkircher recorded 38 receptions for 417 yards over his six-year collegiate career, with half of those coming in his final season at Texas A&M.

Q: Why did the Jaguars draft Nate Boerkircher?

The Jaguars drafted Boerkircher to enhance their run game and utilize multiple tight end sets, believing he can provide more than he demonstrated in college.

Q: How does Nate Boerkircher rank in run-blocking among tight ends?

Boerkircher was PFF's 13th highest-graded run-blocking tight end among Power 4 conferences, showcasing his effectiveness in that area.

Jaguars’ Draft Profile: Nate Boerkircher

TL;DR

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected tight end Nate Boerkircher with the 56th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Despite limited college production, Boerkircher's size, athleticism, and run-blocking ability make him a valuable addition as the team shifts to multiple tight end sets.

Key points

Nate Boerkircher selected 56th overall by the Jaguars
Limited college production with 38 receptions for 417 yards
Ranked 13th in run-blocking among Power 4 tight ends
Jaguars shifting to multiple tight end sets
Belief in Boerkircher's potential to improve the run game

Mentioned in this story

Texas A&MNebraska

Jacksonville JaguarsNate Boerkircher

James Gladstone and the Jacksonville Jaguars’ front office sure did turn some heads following the selection of Texas A&M’s tight end Nate Boerkircher with the 56th overall selection. From Gladstone’s perspective, the move was an attempt to get out in front of an expected run on tight ends with the NFL moving in the direction of multiple tight end sets. Boy, was he right. Following the selection of Boerkircher, 4 of the next 17 picks were at the tight end position. Among the teams that selected a tight end was Gladstone’s old mentor, Les Snead, and the Rams, who battered the Jaguars in multiple tight end sets last season. **>>> STREAM ACTION SPORTS JAX 24/7 LIVE <<<** So who is Nate Boerkircher? A walk-on at Nebraska, Boerkircher ended up transferring to Texas A&M after some disappointing years with the Cornhuskers. His numbers didn’t improve too much in College Station, but NFL teams finally got a glimpse of what he can do. Standing 6’6”, 245 pounds, Boerkircher has the desired size and athleticism (8.90 RAS), but simply wasn’t a focal point in the Aggies’ offense. Across his six-year collegiate career, Boerkircher accrued just 38 receptions for 417 yards. Half of those receptions and yards did come during his final season with the Aggies, however. While the statistical production wasn’t what you would expect from the 56th overall pick at the position, much of it was outside of his control. According to ProFootball, Boerkircher had an “elite” separation rate of 86.4%, yet managed just 22 targets. His 0.55 EPA per target and 142.1 NFL Rating when targeted ranked 3rd and 4th in the tight end class, respectively. **[DOWNLOAD:** **Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks****]** So when he was given the opportunities, he produced. There’s still just a lot of unknowns surrounding a player with just 38 career receptions. He’s shown flashes, but just hasn’t proven all that much yet. The Jaguars believe he can provide them with much more than he did for the Cornhuskers or Aggies. Boerkircher’s calling card and much of the reason Jacksonville elected to draft him is his ability to run-block. Boerkircher lined up inline on 69% of snaps and was PFF’s 13th highest-graded run-blocking tight end among Power 4 conferences. The Jaguars saw firsthand just how big a blow to the run game losing was last season. It’s pretty clear the Jaguars will be utilizing multiple tight end sets far more frequently going forward. It’ll no doubt help their middling run game, but the question is, how much is that really worth? Gladstone and the Jaguars obviously believe Boerkircher brings enough to the table to warrant the 56th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. **[SIGN UP:** **]** ***to download the free Action News Jax apps,*** ***to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and*** ***to stream Action Sports Jax 24/7 live.***

Q&A

What are Nate Boerkircher's college statistics?

Nate Boerkircher recorded 38 receptions for 417 yards over his six-year collegiate career, with half of those coming in his final season at Texas A&M.

Why did the Jaguars draft Nate Boerkircher?

The Jaguars drafted Boerkircher to enhance their run game and utilize multiple tight end sets, believing he can provide more than he demonstrated in college.

How does Nate Boerkircher rank in run-blocking among tight ends?

Boerkircher was PFF's 13th highest-graded run-blocking tight end among Power 4 conferences, showcasing his effectiveness in that area.