Jacksonville Jaguars sign Tyler Eifert: Grade, reaction and more
The Jacksonville Jaguars are bringing aboard tight end Tyler Eifert on a two-year deal. What can the longtime Bengal provide for them?
After focusing on the defensive side of the ball for most of the offseason, the Jacksonville Jaguars finally turned their attention to getting help for quarterback Gardner Minshew by agreeing to a two-year deal with Tyler Eifert.
Eifert, who will turn 30 in September, is one of the game’s most talented tight ends when healthy, but that “when healthy” caveat has been a major problem in recent years, given that last season was the first time in his seven-year NFL career that Eifert played all 16 games.
In 2015, the former Cincinnati Bengal hauled in 52 catches for 615 yards and 13 touchdowns over 13 games played, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl. Over the next three seasons, however, injury problems limited him to just 48 catches for 619 yards and six touchdowns combined, as he missed 26 games overall.
His 2019 season held some promise with a miniature bounce-back, as he played in every single game for the Bengals and finished the year with 43 receptions for 436 yards and three touchdowns. His prime is clearly behind him though, thanks to injuries to his ankle, back and knee.
Contract Details
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Jaguars will be bringing Eifert on board with a two-year deal, reuniting him with Jay Gruden, his first offensive coordinator in Cincinnati. The dollar amount hasn’t been reported yet.
National Reaction
Nice get for Jaguars offense. Can you get 2015 Eifert, who had 13 touchdowns, or just the one limited by injuries who's totaled nine touchdowns in the four seasons since? https://t.co/S92lKnpIMh
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) March 25, 2020
The eventual Tyler Eifert addition doesn't make me view the #Jaguars TE group any differently than I did this morning besides the fact that now Jay Gruden will have had experience with one of them. Wouldn't shock me if Jax rolls with Oliver/Eifert to start the year though
— John Shipley (@_John_Shipley) March 24, 2020
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Tyler Eifert’s talent and production when healthy have never been in question, but on a two-year deal, it’s pretty clear the Jags are accounting for his injury-proneness. It’s unlikely the financial figure will be too steep, and bearing that in mind, this makes him a low-risk, middling-return kind of proposition.
Hopefully he can stay healthy again this season, since injuries to James O’Shaughnessy (torn ACL) and Geoff Swaim (concussion), along with Seth DeValve and Josh Oliver never really emerging deprived the Jags of much-needed production from their tight ends last year.