It’s early, but a Day 3 draft pick for the Jacksonville Jaguars is making it difficult to keep him off the field.
Tight end Tanner Koziol, a fifth-round pick this year, finds himself in what has become a crowded tight end room. However, his ability to capitalize on the opportunities that have come his way can’t be ignored.
During OTAs, John Shipley of Jaguars on SI wrote that Koziol had put together some “impressive flashes.”
Following Tuesday’s minicamp practice, Jamal St. Cyr of News-4-Jax wrote that Koziol “might be a guy that is tough to keep off the field.”
Koziol provided a pass-catching presence at the tight end position during his college career. Over four seasons, he was targeted 337 times, including 123 times at Ball State in 2024 and 94 times this past season at Houston, per PFF.
Koziol has been very reliable as well, hauling in 70% of his passes and totaling over 1,500 receiving yards over his final two seasons with 14 touchdowns. Over 50% of his snaps in 2024 and 2025 came from the slot.
His skill set allows the Jaguars to play with heavier personnel, utilizing two tight end sets, while still having a pass-catching threat to help create mismatches.
“I think very clearly he’s got a superpower that he offers in a real way and that’s catching the football,” James Gladstone said after the NFL draft. “Obviously, his production over the course of his college tenure speaks volumes. Being one of, if not the most productive pass catcher in college history, depending on how you look at things, and I think for how we operate, for how Tanner best operates, having a big target like that isn’t a bad thing, especially when it comes to red zone play.”
To earn snaps in season, Koziol will have to continue performing well in training camp when the pads come on. But up to this point, he’s been able to stand out and has established a strong foundation for himself when it comes to carving out a role.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars rookie TE Tanner Koziol among early standout performers
